MARAWI

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

Rihanna on US Border Patrol firing tear gas at migrants: ‘Terrorism’
Pop star Rihanna on Sunday night responded to reports that the U.S. Border Patrol fired tear gas at migrants, calling it an act of "terrorism."  She posted an Instagram drawing attention to a report that that U.S. Border Patrol had "just launched tear gas into Mexico." 
The Hill

What To Do About Lone Wolf Terrorism? Examining Current Trends and Prevention Strategies
Unabomber Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski waged a solitary bombing campaign for almost two decades from a backwoods cabin in Montana, developing a unique and self-styled anti-technology ideology in near complete social isolation. He also bore little resemblance to most of today’s solitary attackers whose violence has, for the most part, been encouraged through like-minded online communities and enabled by how-to manuals on the internet. Some have even argued that it is time to retire the lone wolf moniker lest we aggrandize the actions of those who in essence are mass murders. 
Foreign Policy Research Institute 

Confronting America's Violent Extremism: A Terrorism Prevention Strategy for the Homeland
Violent extremists in the United States represent one of the most significant threats facing the homeland. This was brought into stark focus last month with a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh killing 11, the worst anti-Semitic attack in the nation’s history, while another domestic extremist mailed pipe bombs to former high-ranking government officials in one of the nation’s largest assassination attempts. There were also reminders of the persistent jihadist threat with individuals in Chicago, Ohio, and Alabama being charged with terrorism-related offenses for providing material support to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
Foreign Policy Research Institute 

Women should be involved to limit terrorism in Nigeria – former Army Chief
A former Chief of Army Administration, Major-General Garba Wahab (retired), has stated that women have a major role to play in ending insurgency in Nigeria. “Is the strategy being used working? are we getting more women in the Northeast especially in Borno to get involved because we need to look at basics of life in that area,” Wahab said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.
The Guardian Nigeria

We should punish technology firms that fail to confront their own role in fuelling terrorism
It is time to challenge the social media and tech companies over their role in fuelling extremism. What I saw in the past decade as a police officer wrestling with issues such as paedophilia, organised crime and gang crime, and latterly running the national police counter terrorism network from New Scotland Yard, was of increasing concern. 
The Telegraph UK

Afghanistan, India facing same threats including terrorism
Afghanistan and India share common culture and history in different ways. However, this history contains many dark pages. Prior to the formation of modern states, the world conquerors from our side has committed much atrocities and oppression on the subcontinent landmass. Nonetheless, there are many interesting issues in our common civilization which frames our civilizational appearance and are the undeniable commons.
MENAFN

ASLMA Calls for Confronting Iran’s Regional, European Terror Threat
An Ahwaz conference shed light on Iran’s terrorism, at the international and regional levels, and the forms of oppression and persecution carried out by the Iranian regime against Ahwazian and non-Persian people, said head of the Arab Struggle Movement for Liberation of Ahwaz (ASLMA) Habib Jaber.
Asharq Al-Awsat

Empowering women vital to prevent extremism: moot
Empowerment of women is vital for establishment of peace, security and prevention of extremism and terrorism in a society and they needed to be included in every aspect of peace-building initiatives.
Pakistan Today

What Really Happened at Khujand Prison in Tajikistan?
Last week, the government of Tajikistan broke its general silence about a recent outbreak of violence at a prison in the country’s north. What has been described as a “riot” apparently broke out near midnight on November 7 at a high-security prison in Khujand. Initial reports varied, as typically happens with breaking news events, with the casualty number ranging from 13 inmates to more than 25, before skyrocketing in the days that followed. According to Eurasianet, some independent media outlets had reported as many as 50 deaths.
The Diplomat
 

Assessing gender perspectives in peace processes with application to the cases of Colombia and Mindanao
In order to make peace processes more inclusive, increased participation by women and other excluded groups has been emphasised for decades, as well as the need to adopt a gender perspective within peace processes. However, the discussion has tended to focus on counting women and treating women’s participation as synonymous with a gender perspective. Defining what a gender perspective is and how it could be applied throughout a peace process has remained largely unexplored.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

Youth involvement in Bangsamoro organic law pushed
THERE is still a need to intensify the involvement of the Bangasamoro youth in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and related issues. Salaam Movement coordinator Fatima Star Lamalan said Monday, November 26, during the SM City’s Kapehan, that the Bangsamoro youth are the future leaders and there is a need to pass on the same vision for peace and unity.
Sunstar Davao

AFP, PNP exempted from hiring, transfer ban for BOL plebiscite
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are allowed to hire or transfer its officers and personnel during the period of the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday. In Resolution No. 10451, the poll body has exempted both the police and military from the ban during the plebiscite period in connection with the Jan. 21, 2019 activity.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

DA exec replaces aunt as candidate for Maguindanao-Cotabato City House seat
Agriculture Undersecretary Bai Ranibai Dilangalen today filed her substitute certificate of candidacy (COC) as representative of the first district of Maguindanao, which includes Cotabato City. Dilangalen, a lawyer, filed her substitute COC at the office of Maguindanao election supervisor Atty. Paisalin Tago.
Mindanews, GMA News, NDBC News

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LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Faeldon formally assumes BuCor post, vows to curb Bilibid drug trade
Newly-installed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Nicanor Faeldon on Monday vowed to curb illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary as well as address the issue on jail congestion. According to a News To Go report, Faeldon read his appointment paper during his first flag ceremony at BuCor.
GMA News

De Lima seeks TRO on presentation of convict-witnesses
Senator Leila de Lima has filed a petition before the Court of Appeals (CA) to stop prosecutors from presenting convicts as witnesses. In a petition last November 19, De Lima sought a temporary restraining order on Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 from hearing the convicts’ testimonies.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Celebrating National Drug Prevention Week
EVERY year, the national drug prevention week is celebrated on the third week of November pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 124, dated November 26, 2001. The Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU)-Center Against Illegal Drugs (CAID) organized a forum discussion on the National Situationer on War Against Illegal Drugs held at AdDU Pakighinabi room last November 21, 2018.
Sunstar Davao

Espenido returns to Eastern Visayas
A police officer who figured in high-profile cases in the government’s drug war is returning to Eastern Visayas region after a two-year absence. Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, Eastern Visayas police director, said he received a directive from the Philippine National Police headquarters informing him about the reassignment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Operations/ Incidents

2 nabbed, P69-K drugs siezed in drug bust
LAWMEN have arrested two people and seized some P69,000 worth of illegal drugs in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City on Sunday, November 25. Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested suspects as Shedran Ismael, and Edgar Ugadora, 31.
Sunstar Zamboanga

Construction worker, helper nabbed in Davao del Sur drug bust
A construction worker and his helper were arrested in a joint police operation in Barangay Mabini here at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday. Senior Insp. Cris Ian Taghap, Magsaysay town police chief, said Dioscuro Gabihan also known as Koroy, 42, and his helper Jay-Ar Traya Belarmino, 27, were arrested by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Magsaysay police station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Duterte: Build chapels in your house, no need to go to church
Reviving his rants against priests and bishops of the Catholic faith, President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged Catholics to just build their own chapels so they won't need to go to church. "You build your own chapel in your own house and pray there. You don't have to go to church to pay for these idiots," he said on Monday, November 26, in a speech in Davao City.
Rappler, CNN Philippines

Duterte: Gov’t ‘quietly’ probing Navy deals of Trillanes’ parents
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday revealed of government’s ongoing investigation into the alleged Philippine Navy deals of the parents of his fiercest critic, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte is puppet, Malacañang China’s HQ in PH, says De Lima
Detained Senator Leila De Lima is accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of being a puppet of China and is claiming that Malacañang Palace is the Asian superpower’s headquarters in the Philippines.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The President’s men: a bunch of meek, docile, and intimidated people
Just as he had promised to change the system established by the elitist leaders of the past during his campaign for the presidency, President Rodrigo Duterte has remained the same man that he was when he was the mayor of Davao City. He has kept the simple lifestyle that he lived for 22 years as Mayor Digong.
Business World Online

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De Lima defends Caloocan bishop slammed by Duterte
“It is vintage Duterte.” Detained Senator Leila de Lima aired her sentiment on the recent “attack” of President Rodrigo Duterte against Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dynasties and justice as fairness
WHAT would reasonable people, fictively ignorant of their particular inclinations, prejudices, biases and preferences, but cognizant of what it is to be human and what it is to live with others, choose as the principles by which society is ordered? That is the question on which Rawls builds his whole theory of justice as fairness. 
The Manila Times

Palace takes fight vs Trillanes to CA in bid to ‘win’ case reversal
Malacañang on Monday expressed optimism that the government can still win the case and have opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV jailed over his long-dismissed coup d’etat charges.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Trillanes should walk the talk
FAILED coup plotter Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th ought to practice what he preaches. Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping was to arrive in Manila for a state visit, the Yellows’ political hitman against President Rodrigo Duterte and his homie, Kiko Pangilinan, filed a Senate resolution demanding to see the draft of the oil and gas exploration agreement that was to be signed with China. “We are demanding transparency…We’re calling them out, walang consultation na nangyari with the legislature,” Trillanes said.
The Manila Times

DISASTER

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

College degree requirement for elected officials anti-poor – lawmaker
A lawmaker disagreed with a provision under the proposed draft constitution in the House of Representatives that requires the president, vice president, and Congress members to have a college degree. The said provision would rob the poor the chance to dream of serving their fellow Filipinos, said Nueva Ecija 3rd District Representative Rosanna Vergara during the plenary debates on Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 15 on Monday, November 26.
Rappler

Election-related Violence

PNP validating reports on politicians linked to kidnapping
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is validating reports that some local politicians have gotten involved with kidnap-for-ransom groups to raise funds for the upcoming elections. PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the PNP had intelligence reports regarding this in Mindanao, particularly in areas where kidnapping gangs were known to operate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Carpio's stand on maritime dispute won't affect chief justice bid, Palace says
The Palace on Monday said differences of opinion between President Rodrigo Duterte and Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio would not lower the latter’s chances to being appointed the next chief justice. Duterte said that when he appointed retired Chief Justice Teresita De Castro to the post, he was following the “seniority rule.”
Philippine Star

LEGISLATIVE

Senators eye Duterte signing of 2019 budget by February 
It’s official, the Senate will not be able to approve the 20019 budget before the year-end and the government may have to operate under a reenacted budget until the first week of February next year. In an all-senator caucus on Monday, the Senate agreed on a tentative schedule for the approval of next year’s budget.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Arroyo bats for constructive House probes
Former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that the House will conduct friendly oversight investigations of the executive branch’s implementation of projects in the remaining months of the 17th Congress. In a luncheon with House media, Arroyo pointed out that there is not a lot that can be done in terms of legislation anyway, since it is difficult to muster a quorum this season and this close to the election.
ABS-CBN News

House approves bill outlawing eavesdropping
The House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed on third and final reading a measure that seeks to outlaw eavesdropping on private communications using “any electronic, mechanical, digital or analog phone system, or similar devices.”
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

‘Why cut up Palawan?’ Why not?
The Inquirer’s Nov. 23, 2018, editorial is a one-sided commentary that merely echoes the line of a group of netizens belatedly opposing the creation of three new Palawan provinces. The editorial also gives readers the erroneous impression that the idea of dividing Palawan was broached only in 2007 by then Vice Gov. David Ponce de Leon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

After helicopter crash, lawmaker calls for 'genuine' AFP modernization
A party-list congressman called for "genuine" modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after the military helicopter he was riding crashed in Capas, Tarlac, last week. Cooperative NATCCO Network Party (COOP-NATCCO) Representative Anthony Bravo delivered his privilege speech at the House plenary on Monday, November 26, 4 days after his helicopter crash.
Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Why ROTC is no longer mandatory
President Rodrigo Duterte, once again, has urged the Congress to enact a law that would revive the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps or he would issue an executive order that would make it so. A bill reinstituting the mandatory ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 students in public and private schools nationwide is pending before the House of Representatives.
Philippine Star

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Falling fuel prices prompts DOF to review planned suspension of fuel tax increase
The Department of Finance (DOF) is reviewing anew the planned temporary suspension of the scheduled increase in fuel taxes effective January next year as global crude prices continue to fall. Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that the “unexpected” drop in fuel prices warrant a review of the suspended P2 per liter fuel tax increase with global crude prices dropping to around $55 per barrel.
Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Solon expects Digong to pardon Imelda
At least one opposition congressman believes that Ilocos Norte 2nd district Rep. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos would inevitably get a pardon from President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

HUDCC exec fired due to extortion case – Panelo
Former Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary-General Falconi Millar was booted out of his post due to extortion complaint, Malacañang revealed Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte to fire another exec for corruption
President Duterte is set to fire this week for graft another government official with the rank of undersecretary. “When I return to Manila I am going to fire another undersecretary for corruption,” the President said during kick-off ceremonies for the construction of the Davao City Bulk Water Project along the Davao-Bukidnon road yesterday afternoon.
Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PH, Czech Republic to convene on ECA
The Philippines and the Czech Republic will immediately convene a joint consultative meeting to further discuss the recently concluded economic cooperation agreement (ECA) and recently signed defense cooperation pact between the two countries.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte’s China dilemma
“Behind every fascism, there is a failed revolution,” the early-20th century German philosopher Walter Benjamin warned, highlighting the inherent danger in how unfulfilled utopian promises can create a vacuum of terror.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Distrusting China
There have been a lot of controversial reactions to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week and to the signing of 29 deals, especially that on the joint exploration for oil, gas, and minerals. Most of the Western press calls the deals part of the Chinese debt colonialism or China’s debt expansionism as they cite countries that are highly indebted to China—Sri Lanka, Pakistan, some countries in Africa and even far off Fiji Islands in the South Pacific.
Manila Standard

China-Philippines relations: A long and bloody history of distrust
REPORTS today about the hostile presence of ships from China in Philippine waters; surging numbers of Chinese arriving in cities; and simmering feelings of resentfulness, distrust and disgust on the part of Filipino residents toward these new migrants give me a queasy sense of déjà vu. I have read similar accounts written over five centuries ago.
The Manila Times

West Philippine Sea

Malacañang releases copy of MOU with China on oil, gas cooperation
Malacañang released on Monday a copy of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the cooperation on oil and gas development between the Philippines and China. The signatories to the three-page document were Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

LABOR

Bill on the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers: Implementing the Maritime Labor Code 2006 and more
The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers appears to be the Philippine government’s initial step to fulfilling a commitment as a party to the International Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) to transpose the convention’s requirements into national legislation. 
The Manila Times

More illegal Chinese workers in Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte's rapprochement with China, driven in most part by economic reasons, has unwittingly led to a huge influx of undocumented Chinese workers over the past two years. They have been accused of not only elbowing Filipinos out of lucrative jobs but also jacking up property prices.
The Straits Times

TRANSPORTATION

Runaway trains
I had the opportunity to revisit Japan last Nov. 16-19 for the 2018 Philippine Studies Conference in Japan (PSCJ) in Hiroshima University. While I could have taken a direct flight to Hiroshima (give or take a layover to another country), circumstances compelled me to land in Kansai International Airport (KIX). From there, I took multiple train line transfers (including the Shinkansen) from KIX to my hotel in Hiroshima.
Business World Online

HEALTH 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Cordillera rice terraces to get P4-B rehab fund
The rice terraces of Ifugao have been hailed as examples of indigenous engineering ingenuity, with small forests at the top of mountains delivering water down to rice paddies shaped like staircases to capture water and maintain soil minerals. But what sustains these architectural wonders are the rice ritual cycles, which are equal parts pest management and soil conservation techniques, because traditional rites follow the peculiar behavior of the seasons as well as insects and animals that thrive nearby.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tariffication to ‘directly affect’ 400 NFA jobs – OIC
About 400 employees of the National Food Authority (NFA) would be “directly affected” if the rice tariffication bill is enacted into law. NFA officer-in-charge Tomas Escarez gave this estimate during a budget hearing in the Senate on Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EDUCATION

ENERGY

Poe bats for rooftop solar power in PH homes, businesses, gov’t offices
Senator Grace Poe is pushing for the passage of a measure that seeks to cut the cost of household and business electricity bills through the use of rooftop solar technology. Poe’s Senate Bill No. 1719 will promote the adoption of rooftop solar technology by residential, commercial, industrial and government end-users.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

HOUSING

New Housing council chief named
The Palace on Monday named Marcelino Escalada Jr. as the new secretary-general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, replacing Falconi Millar, who was sacked after he was accused of extortion. Before his appointment, Escalada was acting general manager of the National Housing Authority.
Manila Standard

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR