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Communist Rebellion
Fourthcoming declaration of martial law in the whole Philippines!    
Less than a week from laying to rest the Sagay 9 massacre victims, activist lawyer Atty. Benjamin Ramos, Jr. fell victim to extra-judicial killing or EJK in the evening of November 6, 2018 at Barangay 5, Kabankalan City.
NDFP

Shatter fear and turn grief into greater resolve to oust the US-Duterte regime!    
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Negros condemns in the highest possible terms the brutal murder of lawyer Atty. Benjamin Ramos, Jr. last November 6 in Kabankalan City. The gunmen, undoubtedly, were in the service of those who had all the devious motives to silence and kill the people’s lawyer, the fascist state and the despotic cabal of big landlords in the island.
NDFP

Sagay massacre victims’ kin: We don’t know slain lawyer
The relatives of farm workers killed in Sagay, Negros Occidental last month have clarified reports that slain human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos was their counsel. “Hindi namin siya kilala (We don’t know him),” Nove Bantigue, a niece of one of the fatalities, said. Joemarie Cañete, whose wife died in the massacre, said no one among their family members have met Ramos.
Philippine Star

4 ex-rebels deny involvement in Sagay massacre
Four former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) denied their involvement in the massacre of nine farmers here. They showed up on Friday, November 9, during a press briefing at Balay Kauswagan here to clear their names after they were named by Ka Frank of the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros as the alleged perpetrators behind the murder of the farmers at Bulanon village on October 20.
Sunstar Bacolod, The Manila Times

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Ladlad's wife apologizes to PNP chief for wanting to see her husband
The wife of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Vicente Ladlad, who was blocked by police personnel as she was attempting to force her way to see her detained husband, apologizes to Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.
GMA News

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Guihulngan war path
We took notice of the dead serious-ness of the seeming weekly end-less violent killings in Guihulngan City, north of Dumaguete, when a group of national agency inspectors decided to skip visiting the war torn city of Guihulngan unless the violence subsides.
Negros Chronicle

NPA denies killing 3 tribesmen in Agusan
A New People’s Army (NPA) spokesperson on Friday said it was the military-backed anticommunist lumad militiamen, not communist rebels, who shot dead three Higaonon tribesmen in a hinterland village in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, early Thursday.
CARAGA News Courier

14 NPAs, 105 supporters surrender in Zambo Sur
Fourteen New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and 105 supporters surrendered and condemned the NPA in a rally Friday in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said. Lt. Col. Jonathan Obena, the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion (44IB) commander, said the group of NPA rebels and supporters surrendered Friday in the municipality of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
Philippine News Agency, Sunstar Zamboanga

3 NPA guerrillas surrender in Bukidnon
Three members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army from the Guerrilla Front Committee 4B  have surrendered to the military, the Philippine Army said Saturday. In a statement, the Army said the communist rebels surrendered to troops of the 8th Infantry DEPENDABLE Battalion (8IB) in Barangay Kalabugao, Impasugong, Bukidnon, Friday, November 9, 2018.
GMA News

Peace Talks

GRP’s Arsenal of Dubious Legal Tools Against NDFP Peace Consultants (and Activists)    
TERMINATE THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Do this swiftly by mere unilateral presidential proclamation and lay the blame on the NDFP for their insincerity and unwillingness to surrender without addressing the reasons why there is an armed conflict. Add and harp on a litany of unaccepable conditions to make the resumption practically impossible.
NDFP

Duterte shutting door to peace, says Joma
The continued arrest of consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) only showed that President Duterte did not want to resume peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels, exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison said on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Incidents/ Operations  

PNP: NPAs torch construction equipment in S. Cotabato
Police said communist rebels torched Friday night a heavy equipment of a private construction firm in South Cotabato. Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for police in Region 12, said about 10 communist New Peoples Army (NPAs) set ablaze a backhoe of Gemma Construction in Sitio Lampinik, Barangay Lamfugon, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato at about 10 p.m.   
NDBC News

 
Extremism

ARMM boosts reintegration program to quell terrorism
At least 52 former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Friday began their skills training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), as part of their reintegration to the mainstream society in Basilan province.
Philippine News Agency


The Stabilization Network holds Mindanao FGD on Women Against Violent Extremism
“Women give Pivotal Role in Development, and that they are the very foundation of Society,” Dr. Moctar Matuan, former Director of the MSU-Institute for Peace and Development said during the Mindanao Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Women Against Violent Extremism held on November 3 at the Social Hall, Provincial Capitol Complex, Marawi City.
Luwaran

MARAWI


SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      


ISIS militants had many motives for attack on Christians in Minya
An attack on Christians in the central Egyptian province of Minya did not happen haphazardly or without planning, analysts said. The November 2 assault was aimed at stopping Egyptian efforts to revive its tourism sector, they said, adding that the attack showed terrorism remains a threat to stability in Egypt and could affect relations between the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt’s Christian minority.
The Arab Weekly

After ISIS, Damascus Suburb Residents Blocked From Going Home
Abu Mohammed thought he could finally go home after militants were expelled from his Damascus suburb, but he says Syrian authorities have blocked his return by wrongly classifying his dwelling as unfit to live in.
Asharq Al-Awsat

Albania bans 52 Greeks after 'extremism' at funeral
Tirana has banned 52 Greek nationals from entering the country over what it labelled their "extremist" behaviour at the funeral of an ethnic Greek man killed by Albanian police, an official said late Friday (Nov 9). The 52 were banned as their "intolerable manifestation of extremism harms Albania's sovereignty, national and public security", deputy interior minister Aleksander Lleshaj told reporters.
Channel News Asia

Bangsamoro

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

Petition on BOL: Anti-people stance
Former and now candidate for Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan Sr. reportedly moralized his son’s petition on the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) before the Supreme Court not only to test its legality but to entrench its firmness as a law once it is declared constitutional.
Luwaran

CSO leaders urge Pres. Duterte to stop Sulu Gov. Tan from destroying his legacy for peace in Mindanao
Leaders of Mindanao’s Civil Society groups urged President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to stop Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II from destroying his legacy for peace in Mindanao.  Gov. Tan filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition in the Supreme Court against the Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Luwaran

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

LANAO PROVINCES

Tight gubernatorial race seen in Lanao Sur
Local political analysts have predicted a tight gubernatorial race among four Maranao candidates from different professions, even as they urged resident-voters to make the difference in the 2019 elections by way of shunning vote-buying schemes that characterized political exercises in the province for decades.
Manila Bulletin

11-MW hydropower plant gets green light in Lanao Norte
The provincial government here has commenced its private-partnership venture with Liangan Power Corporation for the PHP2 billion 11-megawatt Liangan Hydroelectric Power Plant Project. The groundbreaking on November 6 signaled the start of the partnership between the Liangan Power Corporation, the Lanao del Norte provincial government and the municipality of Bacolod, where the power plant will be built.
Philippine News Agency

BASILAN

SULU 

Protection of teachers from Abu Sayyaf sought in Sulu
Regional officials on Friday urged leaders in Sulu to help protect teachers from Abu Sayyaf militants abducting even lowly government employees for meager ransom. The issue was discussed by members of the regional peace and order council (RPOC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during a meeting Friday in Cotabato City.
Philippine Star, NDBC News

TAWI-TAWI 

Shadow Economies

DRUGS

Albayalde: No connection between cop shootings and PRRD’s reward
The Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified on Saturday that the two consecutive shooting incidents involving police officers have no connection with President Duterte’s statement to kill narco-cops in exchange of a “prize” and a trip to Hong Kong.
Manila Bulletin

Fear and killings on the rise in Duterte's war on drugs
After two years of a violent "war on drugs" in the Philippines, thousands of people are dead and much of the population live in fear of the police. The policy has been personally driven by President Rodrigo Duterte, who's now facing prosecution at the International Criminal Court.
Aljazeera

Mayor must be first in line for drug test
Instead of subjecting grade school pupils to mandatory drug testing, all officials from President Duterte down to the last barangay captain should set the example by being the first to be examined for traces of prohibited narcotics.
Philippine Star

Operations/ Incidents

P600K ‘shabu’ seized in Negros Occidental
Operatives have seized an estimated PHP600,000 worth of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation early Saturday morning on Dos Hermanos St., Barangay 3 in San Carlos City. The suspect, Joseph Fedrequilan, 39, a high-value target, however, fled when he sensed that he was transacting with an undercover policeman around 1:15 a.m.
Philippine News Agency

12 dead, 79 drug suspects nabbed in Laguna cops intensified ops
A total of 12 persons died while 79 crime and drug suspects were arrested during two days of intensified operations conducted by the Laguna police this week. In this city, a still unidentified male suspect was killed in Barangay Banlic at about 4 a.m. Thursday after resisting arrest and firing at police operatives during a chase.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

Villar: Now is chance for DOJ to prove it can win cases vs high-profile personalities involved in rice smuggling
Sen. Cynthia Villar believes that now is the chance for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prove that it can win cases against high-profile personalities involved in rice smuggling and manipulation of rice prices.
Manila Bulletin

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

SCAM 

Land Issues
Police probes landowners, donees in Sagay 9 massacre
The Sagay City Police Station is obtaining the statements of the landowner, lessor, and recipients of the sugarcane farm where the Sagay 9 massacre took place last month in Negros Occidental as part of the ongoing investigation.
Philippine News Agency

 
Indigenous Peoples
IP rep goes to council meeting–on horseback
Kidapawan City Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Datu Radin Igwas attended Thursday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, some 6.4 km. away from his home in Barangay Perez — on horseback.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Philippine News Agency

 
Human Rights
House prepare measures seeking safeguards to human rights defenders
The technical working group (TWG) of the House Committee on Human Rights will start consolidating measures seeking to safeguard the rights and interests of human rights defenders. The TWG, chaired by Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, is set to meet on Tuesday to consolidate and scrutinize House Bills 1617 and 8128, authored by the Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, respectively.
Manila Bulletin

Tax case vs Rappler 'desperate attempt to silence critical voice' – HRW
International group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday, November 10, decried the Philippine justice department's indictment of Rappler for tax evasion. In a statement on Saturday, HRW Asia Director Brad Adams called the indictment a "clear desperate attempt by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to shut down one of the critical voices in Philippine journalism."
Rappler, BBC News

Killings 

Martial Law  


 
Governance

Duterte: Inday won’t waste time for presidency
President Duterte said that his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio does not have any plans to run for President. Duterte made the statement amid speculations that he is grooming his daughter, fondly called Inday, to be his successor.
Manila Bulletin

Sara hints at making a bid for speakership
Saying that her bet for Speaker could later turn out to be “none other than myself,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio may have stirred a political tempest that could derail the bid of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Jay Velasco for the influential top post in the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

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Robredo slams online attack
The Vice President did not mince words against those who have been caught spreading false information on social media, the latest of which she supposedly asked Congress to “allow early campaigning for Liberal Party candidates.”
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

MINDANAO

Foreign-assisted road projects to be implemented soon in Mindanao – DPWH
Some foreign institution-funded infrastructure projects in Mindanao will be implemented soon, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said. More official development assistance (ODA)-funded infrastructure projects, according to DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, “will commence soon as they look forward to have Secretary Mark Villar see these project progresses on the ground much quicker.”
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Pimentel calls on Comelec to speed up ruling on 2 disqualification petitions
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has called on Commission on Elections (Comelec) to speed up its ruling on the two disqualification petitions against his bid for reeelection.
Manila Bulletin

Wenceslao: The legitimate opposition
THE fielding by the legitimate opposition led by the Liberal Party (LP) of only eight candidates—four short of the 12 open seats—in the senatorial race is proof of how far the former administration party has fallen. Not only has the LP weakened considerably, it could coalesce with only the smaller political groups. 
Sunstar Cebu

Election-related Violence

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Federalism shift won’t cause problems for national ID: PSA
The proposed shift to a federal system of government will not cause problems for the roll out of the national identification (ID) system, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Saturday. PSA head Lisa Grace Bersales made this assurance over a radio interview, following concerns that transitioning to federalism might confuse Filipinos in existing regions should there be changes in its composition.
Philippine News Agency

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate expected to work on, fast track approval of priority measures
The Senate is expected to work on and fast track the approval of priority measures, including the P3.575-trillion proposed national budget for 2019, when it resumes sessions on Monday, November 12.
Manila Bulletin

Solon stresses need to repeal National Building Code
Threats of natural catastrophes triggered by climate change has made it imperative for the country to put in place a new National Building Code that would replace the antiquated building and construction laws.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima seeks Congress approval of bill granting medical parole to terminally-ill inmates
Detained opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has sought congressional passage of her bill granting medical parole that would allow terminally-ill inmates to serve their sentence under the care of their families or seek better medical care outside the correctional facilities.
Manila Bulletin

Bill recalling Yamashita’s surrender pushed
Residents of Ifugao province are waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign an enrolled bill that declares Sept. 2 as a non-working holiday in the province. On Sept. 2, 1945, General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered to the US military in Kiangan town, ending Japanese resistance to the allied forces that came to liberate the Philippines. Yamashita was the commander of all Japanese Imperial army forces in the Philippines.
Manila Standard

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Number of DILG Seal of Good Local Governance awardees drop in 2018
Guided by higher standards imposed by its new chief, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) awarded only 263 local government units the coveted Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for 2018, much lower than last year's 448 recipients.
Rappler

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Russia signs terms of reference for defense cooperation
The Defense departments of the Philippines and Russia have signed military trainings and exercises agreement in Moscow. Arsenio Andolong, spokesman of the Department of National Defense (DND), the signing of the Terms of Reference of the Joint Working Group (JWG) will pave the way for the improved military cooperation between the Philippines and Russian military.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, GMA News

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Defenseless vs inflation? 'Gov't should listen to people,' says Tañada
Instead of insisting that it is defenseless against rising inflation, the government should have the "political will" to listen to the people who have been bearing the brunt of higher prices.
Rappler

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Imelda may still avoid jail term – solon
At 89, former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos may be able to avoid the stiff prison term imposed on her by the Sandiganbayan. Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said lawyers of Marcos may cite humanitarian considerations in seeking exemption from the maximum 77 years imprisonment the Sandiganbayan had imposed on her following conviction on seven counts of graft.
Manila Bulletin

Imee, Bongbong Marcos were beneficiaries of illegal Swiss foundations
Sandiganbayan records show that former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr and sister Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos were beneficiaries of the Swiss foundations earlier found by the anti-graft court as illegally created and maintained.
Rappler

Why the PNP cannot arrest Imelda yet
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not yet received any copy of the arrest warrant against former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos.
Manila Bulletin

PNP has not yet received any copy of arrest warrant against Imelda Marcos
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not yet received any copy of the arrest warrant against Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, the reason why lawmen could not yet place her under custody following Sandiganbayan’s conviction on seven counts of graft charges against the late strongman’s wife.
Manila Bulletin

‘Non-imprisonment for Imelda won’t diminish guilt’
Former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos may escape imprisonment, but that does not diminish her guilt, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said yesterday.
Philippine Star

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

China, US sparring continues over South China Sea
China bluntly told the United States to stop sending ships and military aircraft close to islands claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea, during talks that set the stage for a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping later this month.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

China weather stations in Spratlys meant to intimidate Duterte: analyst
Foreign analysts have urged the Duterte administration to protest China's weather stations in the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that Beijing has begun operating a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on its man-made islands located in Fiery Cross, Subi, and Mischief reefs. 
ABS-CBN News

LABOR

22% Filipinos remain jobless — SWS
Unemployment among Filipinos has reached 22 percent or about 9.8 million individuals in the third quarter of 2018, up from 19.7 percent or 8.6 million with no job in the previous quarter, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results showed.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

No MRT fare hike amid rehab activities: DOTr
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday assured the riding public that no fare hike will be carried out anytime soon for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3), unless improvements on facilities and operations are already completed. 
Philippine News Agency

HEALTH 

DOH bids to improve access to health services
The Department of Health (DOH) recently conducted a discussion together with patient groups and civil society organizations, tackling medicine access issues and concerns related to access to health services.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION

SC upholds constitutionality of K to 12 educational program of government
In a 94-page decision penned by Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the SC has denied the consolidated petitions which assailed the constitutionality of Republic Act 10533 (K to 12 Law), RA 10157 (Kindergarten Education Act) and other government issuances concerning the implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program including Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 20.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler

ENERGY

NGCP interconnection project to meet target
THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) remains upbeat about meeting the December 2020 deadline to complete the P51.9-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP).
The Manila Times

Duterte eyes entry of ‘big players’ to end Palawan blackouts
President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday night, November 10, that he would be compeled to expropriate the franchise of independent power producers (IPPs) in Palawan and sell them to "big players" to end the rotational power outages in the province.
Rappler

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Angara hopeful for free, fast wifi in SUCs with 3rd telco entry
With the expected entry of a third major player in the weak telecommunications industry, Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara said he is looking forward to faster implementation of the government’s free Wi-Fi project in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Manila Bulletin

Mislatel asserts franchise validity, eligibility to be third telco player
The Mislatel consortium asserted on Saturday the validity of its franchise and its eligibility to be the third player in the country's telecommunications space. This, after disqualified bidder Sear Telecom and its partner Tier1, a consortium backed by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, questioned Mislatel's franchise and eligibility to be the third telco player.
ABS-CBN News

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR 

International Alert Philippines is an independent peacebuilding organization that focuses on eradicating vertical and horizontal conflicts through research and analysis, advocacy, and capacity-building. We pool relevant news articles, blog posts, social media materials, and press releases through this daily digest to update ourselves and our partners on important events and ideas that may affect our programmes. Know more about us by following our social media accounts:

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