122nd Philippine Independence Day

On 122nd year of PH independence, Duterte calls for ‘united battle’ vs coronavirus
One hundred and twenty-second years after the country won its independence, President Duterte has called for a “united battle” this time to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

‘Freedom for one & for everyone’ — VP Robredo
“Walang kalayaan ang isa kung walang kalayaan ang lahat (One is not free if there is no freedom for everyone).”
Manila Bulletin

With freedom being challenged, historian reminds it is won the hard way
As we celebrate the country’s 122nd year of independence, a historian said this should remind us that there is no shortcut towards freedom.
CNN Philippines

Palace acknowledges Independence Day greetings from Emperor Naruhito
Emperor Naruhito of Japan has sent his warm greetings to the Philippines on the occasion of its 122nd anniversary of proclamation of independence.
Manila Bulletin

Japan, China, US, India extend Independence Day greetings to Philippines
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and China’s President Xi Jinping have extended their greetings to the Filipino people on the 122nd anniversary of Philippine independence, Malacañang said Friday.
GMA News

PTV says sorry for using wrong photo in June 12 broadcast
State-owned People’s Television Network has apologized for mistakenly using a photo of the country’s first president Emilio Aguinaldo to identify revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio during its broadcast of the Independence Day celebration.
Manila Bulletin

Año: Rallyist who defy order vs mass gatherings will be dispersed
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said protesters who will defy the government’s order against mass gatherings will be dispersed and advised to go home as the country continues to battle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

On Independence Day, Cayetano tells Filipinos 'freedom always comes at a price'
On the day Filipinos mark their independence from oppressors, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said freedom "always comes at a price" and urged the public not to see a conspiracy behind every decision of the government.
Rappler

Mayor Sara, progressive groups air different messages on Independence Day
In the home city of President Duterte, two different programs were held with different themes on the commemoration of the 122nd Independence Day. The city government held its annual commemoration during the City Hall’s flag ceremony, with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio delivering a message on learning from heroes to persevere amid the covid-19 crisis.
Davao Today

Human rights lawyer says calling the right to protest irresponsible is ‘discriminatory’
Human rights lawyer and activist Neri Colmenares on June 12, Friday, said that it is “discriminatory” to call holding protests during the pandemic as irresponsible because doing so is a right that people must uphold.
Manila Bulletin

‘Grand Mañanita’ Freedom Day protest at UP
Hundreds of people, mostly youth, defied not only the quarantine protocols but also the gloomy weather as they marched through the streets of Quezon City before convening at the University of the Philippines – Diliman campus to stage what they called the “Grand Mañanita” protest on Friday, to commemorate the Philippines’ 122nd Independence Day.
Manila Bulletin

On Independence Day, Sereno urges Filipinos to fight for rights
Former Philippine chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, Independence Day, urged Filipinos to fight for their rights. "Democracy does not suddenly establish itself," Sereno said in a statement as the Philippines celebrates its 122nd year of independence from Spanish rule.
GMA News

‘Protect life, livelihood, rights’ — Sen. Pangilinan
‘’Life. Livelihood. Rights. These are the most essential elements that every Filipino should fight for to preserve our freedom and independence,” opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Mayor Isko dedicates Independence Day celebration to COVID-19 frontliners
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said this year’s commemoration of Independence Day is dedicated to the frontline workers battling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros, opposition personalities stage online rally on Independence Day
“Are we really free?” Senator Risa Hontiveros posed this question on Friday (June 12) as she led an online Independence Day rally aiming to protect the Philippines from what she referred to as modern-day “oppressors” that continue to deprive the country of its sovereignty and deny Filipinos basic rights and freedoms.
Manila Bulletin

Zumba in Marikina, Mañanita in QC: new protest modes in COVID-19 era
The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted cause-oriented groups to find new ways to stage a protest and exercise their freedom of expression amid the health crisis.
Manila Bulletin

COVID-19

Cases

PH sets new record-high 289 COVID-19 recoveries
The Philippines set another record-high in the number of recoveries from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recorded in a single day. The Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday that 289 more patients have recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of survivors to 5,454. It surpassed the 270 recoveries reported on June 11.
Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer

5,490 Filipino migrants already infected with COVID-19
Twenty-one more Filipinos abroad were infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Friday, June 12.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

DOH expands testing coverage to include more frontliners, vulnerable individuals
The Department of Health (DOH) said that it has expanded its testing coverage guidelines to include more frontliners and other vulnerable individuals who are at high risk of contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

Study suggests ‘curve has not yet flattened,’ predicts COVID-19 cases in NCR, Cebu to increase by the end of June
The number of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines might reach 40,000 by end of June, based on the latest study and forecast of a team from the University of the Philippines (UP).
Manila Bulletin

IATF

PH set to begin testing on asymptomatic individuals, says T3 czar
The government has officially included asymptomatic individuals, or those who have no symptoms of coronavirus disease, in its expanded targeted testing, an official of the National Action Plan (NAP) on COVID-19 disclosed on June 12, Friday.
Manila Bulletin

NCR likely to remain under GCQ – Año
Metro Manila will most likely remain under a general community quarantine (GCQ), said Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

South Cotabato has 2 new COVID-19 patients
Two residents of South Cotabato who have travel history to Cebu and Manila have been tested positive of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), raising the region's positive patients to 37, the Department of Health (DOH-12) said on Independence Day.
NDBC News

COVID-19 cases in Davao Region breach 400 mark
Davao Region recorded 19 new confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases to bring the tally to 411 as of Thursday, the highest among all six regions in Mindanao, according to the Department of Health regional office.
Mindanews

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National gov’t urged to improve Hatid Probinsiya Program
Officials in Lanao del Sur on Thursday urged the national government to improve the system of sending home locally stranded individuals (LSIs) through the Hatid Probinisya Program to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mindanews

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Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

China to continue helping PH in its COVID-19 response — Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping has committed to President Duterte that China will continue to give its full support to the Philippines in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

China pledges to give PH priority access to its potential COVID-19 vaccine
China has pledged to make its potential coronavirus vaccine a “global public good” and prioritize the Philippines to access it, owing to the close relations with their “friendly neighbor.”
Manila Bulletin

Younger volunteers to be tapped for church service
As a precaution, senior citizens are being discouraged from doing voluntary service in the church amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

Jobless seaman turns to food delivery amid COVID-19
Filipino seafarer who lost his job due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic had turned to food delivery to earn a living, according to Mariz Umali's Friday report on "24 Oras."
GMA News

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

SWS: 4 million got stranded
Ms. Michelle Silvertino, the 33-year-old single mother who died last June 5 in Pasay City, after being stranded for five days waiting for a bus home to Camarines Sur, is an icon for an estimated 4 million Filipinos stranded by quarantines, based on the Social Weather Stations May 4-10, 2020 nationwide mobile phone survey.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Finding a home away from home
[W]hen survival is threatened, struggles erupt between peoples, and unfortunate wars between nations result,” said Hideki Tojo, former prime minister of Japan and convicted war criminal.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

World

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in. Since the 20th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
World Health Organization

Asymptomatic COVID-19: Five things to know
Since the first cluster of cases of the novel coronavirus was reported in China last December, scientists have been racing to get a better understanding of the highly contagious disease, COVID-19, and how to stop its spread.
Aljazeera

Risk of new lockdowns rises with fear of second COVID-19 wave
Fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections shut six major food markets in Beijing on Friday, while India, which opened up this week, recorded a record daily increase and half a dozen U.S. states said their hospital beds were filling up fast.
Reuters

Europe Travel Bubble: EU Opens Borders Only To Safe Covid-19 Countries July
Europe will form a giant travel bubble, lifting the EU travel ban from July 1, starting only with tourists from countries with low Covid-19 infection levels. The border restrictions which currently block entry to 30 European countries for all non-essential travel will start to unwind on July 1.
Forbes

Pandemic shuts Earth’s eyes on the skies
It’s as if the Earth has closed its eyes, some scientists say: the coronavirus pandemic has forced astronomers in northern Chile to shut down the world’s most powerful telescopes, running the risk of missing out on supernovas and other spectacles in space.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

To avert another ‘stranded person’ death, PRRD orders DSWD, DOTr, to assist
In a bid to prevent another death of a stranded person, President Duterte has mobilized concerned government agencies to provide shelter and transport assistance for people who are unable to get a ride home due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte thanks Bahraini ruler for royal pardon granted to two Filipinos
President Duterte has vowed to further enhance the country’s cooperation with Bahrain on protecting the welfare of Filipino workers following the recent royal pardon granted by Bahrain’s ruler to two Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin

Palace offers condolences over death of former DFA Secretary Yasay
Malacañang has offered its deep sympathies over the death of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr., a former member of the Duterte Cabinet.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec: Voter’s Certification to be issued starting June 15 in GCQ, MGCQ areas except Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay in Cebu
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the certification may be secured in all Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Modified GCQ or with no community quarantine in place, as well as in their main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Chief justice Peralta honors COVID-19 frontliners on Independence Day
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta honored frontliners against COVID-19 as the country celebrated its 122nd Independence Day from Spanish rule on Friday.
GMA News

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senators urge Filipinos: ‘Honor heroes’ sacrifice for country’s freedom, people’s health’
Senators on Independence Day, Friday, reminded the public of the sacrifices of Filipino heroes in fighting for the freedom of the Philippines and the people’s rights.
Manila Bulletin

Go pushes for immediate passage of proposed Department of Overseas Filipino Workers
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday pushed for the immediate passage of the proposed Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW) bill as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to affect Filipino migrant workers, with most of them losing their jobs abroad and forced to return home.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

House panel probes move to limit local poultry production
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food on Friday announced it will conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the state of the poultry industry in the country. This was prompted by the Bureau of Animal Industry’s pronouncement that it would impose limits on local poultry production
Manila Bulletin

House studies bill to regulate online selling; BIR requires registration for tax payments
Approval of a House of Representatives priority bill proposing to protect consumers and merchants engaged in internet transactions has been overtaken by the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s determined efforts to collect taxes from online sellers.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

DND, AFP mark 122nd PH Independence Day with call for unity vs. pandemic
The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged Filipinos to unite amid the global health crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the country celebrated its 122nd Independence Day on Friday, June 12.
Manila Bulletin

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Australia gives AFP P35M-aid for expansion of primary military hospital
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has received P35 million worth of assistance from the Australian government which will be used to expand the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.
Manila Bulletin

Returning Navy task force marks June 12 in Philippine waters
Sailors and marines composing the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 under the Joint Task Force “Pagpauli” commemorated the 122nd Philippine Independence Day aboard BRP Davao Del Sur (LD602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16) as they entered Manila Bay on Friday after months of journey in the Middle East.
GMA News

Philippine National Police

PNP notes ‘peaceful, orderly’ protests nationwide on 122nd Independence Day
The Philippine National Police (PNP) observed a generally “peaceful” and “orderly” conduct of mass protests across the country during the celebration of the country’s 122nd Independence Day on Friday (June 12).
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

Filing of 2019 ITRs will not be re-extended — BIR
The Bureau of Internal Revenue reiterated Friday that the Monday deadline in the filing of 2019 income tax returns (ITRs) will no longer be re-extended as the government urgently needs the payments to protect the health of the citizens against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

DFA: Filipinos should unite to free PH from COVID-19
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin, Jr. called on Filipinos to unite in freeing the country from the COVID-19 pandemic. Locsin, in his message on the 122nd anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, Friday, said the country’s fight against the coronavirus is similar to the battles fought by Filipino heroes to free the country from foreign invaders.
Manila Bulletin

Former DFA Sec. Yasay dies, 73
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Prrfecto Yasay, Jr. passed away on Friday, June 12. He was 73. The former DFA secretary’s passing was confirmed by his wife, Cecile Joaquin Yasay on Facebook.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

SWS: 55% of workforce experienced great stress over COVID-19 pandemic
More than half, or 55% of the Philippine workforce felt great stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed Friday.
GMA News

Gov’t rescues 228 LSIs staying under NAIA expressway, around airports
The government has rescued 228 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who have been forced to stay outdoors, particularly under the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway, while waiting for flights back to their home provinces.
Manila Bulletin

Año to stranded individuals: Don’t go to airport if you have no confirmed flight
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday pleaded with stranded individuals to refrain from proceeding to the airport if they do not have any confirmed flights to their home provinces.
Manila Bulletin

DOLE to improve focus on OFWs’ mental wellness, psycho-social needs
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the untimely passing of Filipino seafarer Mariah Jocson heightened the need for greater awareness and advocacy on the psycho-social needs and mental wellness of overseas Filipino workers awaiting repatriation.
Manila Bulletin

CBCP official saddened by death of Pinoy seafarer, calls authorities to prioritize OFWs welfare
The death of Filipino seafarer Mariah Jocson saddened an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.
Manila Bulletin

OFWs in China still unable to return home, says ambassador
At least 265 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China are waiting to be repatriated to the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

9 immigration officers at NAIA turn out negative for COVID-19
Nine Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) who were earlier suspected of having COVID-19 turned out to be free of the virus after testing negative in swab tests.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Farmers' groups call on Duterte, DA to cancel ‘overpriced’ P1.8B fertilizer contract
An alliance of farmers' groups in Central Luzon on Thursday called on President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to cancel the P1.8 billion fertilizer contract under its COVID-19 aid program amid allegations of overpricing.
GMA News

Pangilinan to DA: Prioritize local broiler industry over imports
Senator Francis Pangilinan urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) on June 12, Friday, to prioritize local poultry production over imports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Senator urges schools to defer tuition fee hikes
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian today urged private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to defer their tuition hike petitions while most families have been struggling with financial woes since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis hit the country.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Poe: No more delays in cash aid distribution to PUV drivers under SAP2
There should no longer be delays in the distribution of the cash aid to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers under the second tranche of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP), Senator Grace Poe said on Friday.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

TOURISM

Tourism operations may resume at half-capacity in areas under MGCQ
Tourism operations may resume at half-capacity not only in Boracay but other destinations under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Malacañang said Friday (June 12). Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Bohol, Baguio, and other travel destinations are expected to reopen, but only at 50 percent operational capacity to local travelers.
Manila Bulletin

DOT eyes ‘travel bubbles’ between Asian countries for industry recovery
The country’s tourism department is eyeing to adopt “travel bubbles” to help the industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Manage your trash to prevent spike in dengue cases — environmental group
Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition on Friday urged the public to “safely manage their discards or trash to help prevent a spike in dengue cases with the start of the rainy season.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY