Is Malayao the prime suspect in own slay?
Authorities have so far failed to solve Randy Felix Malayao’s murder, and we may never see justice for him at all. True, the police has released sketches of the suspects and the CCTV videos from the bus company. But while the police has apparently received or gathered such information on Randy’s killing — they have engaged in intrigue and gossip.
Manila Bulletin

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ACT fears CA decision could give PNP ‘go signal’ to intensify surveillance of teachers
Militant teacher’s group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) remained fearful as the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) insisted that intelligence operations on their organization will continue after the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed ACT’s petition to declare PNP’s profiling of its members unconstitutional.
Manila Bulletin

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations   

Army intensifies operation vs. NPA in NoCot
Military forces in North Cotabato have stepped up operations against a band of communist guerrillas following a clash on Friday that left two soldiers slightly injured. 
Philippine News Agency

Troops seize NPA weapons in central Negros clash site
Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) recovered weapons left behind by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels after an encounter in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday afternoon.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Logger killed in Basilan for failing to say Quran verses
Armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf members shot dead a logger on Saturday morning in Maluso town in Basilan province for being unable to say Al Fatihah, the first seven verses of the Quran.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The terrorism-drugs nexus
Just very recently as head of the Philippine delegation, I attended the “Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS” ministers’ meeting held at the US State Department. The summit was hosted by US State Secretary Mike Pompeo with US President Donald Trump as the main speaker. The US President thanked the coalition’s collective commitment in defeating ISIS around the world. 
Philippine Star

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Davao City bans backpacks inside mosques
Following the recent bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City, the city of Davao has started implementing a “no backpack policy” inside its mosques.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jolo Blast

AFP maintains suspects behind Jolo cathedral bombing possibly Indonesians
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday contended that the suspects behind the bombing of a Catholic cathedral in Jolo, Sulu, were possibly Indonesian citizens, even as the Indonesian Embassy seeks clarification regarding the claim.
GMA News

Religious conflict should not be used for terrorism
It was a remarkable coincidence that when the Cathedral in Jolo was bombed and a mosque was hit in Zamboanga, Pope Francis should be holding a historic public mass for some 170,000 Catholics in a stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Philippine Star

MARAWI

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

Trends in the Spread of Radical Islam in Africa: The Case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Islamic radicalism and extremism are perceived around the world as a major threat to international security. The Islamists started developing terrorism and took it to a global level. Today, perhaps, there is no continent where this problem would not be acute. 
Modern Diplomacy

Extremism ‘weakening Arab states,’ Arab Parliament forum told
Extremism and terrorism have led to a “weakening of the social fabric” in Arab states, an Arab Parliament conference in Cairo has been warned. The Parliament’s speaker, Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Salami, told the high-level forum that political militancy and terrorist activity had paved the way for external interference in some states, particularly by neighboring countries.
Arab News

Tanzania on full alert against terror attacks: PM
Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Saturday that the country is on full alert against acts of terrorism. Adjourning a two-week parliamentary session in the capital Dodoma, Majaliwa said security organs in the country are vigilant all the time to ensure that terrorism acts do not happen.
Xinhua

Tunisia attacks: Militants jailed over 2015 terror
Seven jihadists have been sentenced to life in prison in Tunisia over attacks at a museum and a beach resort in 2015. Sixty people, mostly tourists, died in the two attacks and many were wounded.
BBC News

A Battle Cry Seldom Heard These Days: The Palestinian Cause
When terrorists in Africa delivered two devastating attacks last month, they invoked a battle cry seldom heard in recent militant activity on the continent: the Palestinian cause.
The New York Times

Hataman, other officials bid farewell to ARMM
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman and members of his cabinet on Friday bade farewell to their respective offices, which are set to be replaced by a new set of offices under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Manila Bulletin

DBP exec pushes for Islamic banking
A top executive of the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) called on Mindanawon lawmakers to pursue the proposed framework on Islamic banking in the Philippines for the development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Mindanews

MinDA, DBP sign MOU on Mindanao projects
The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) forged Friday a memorandum of understanding with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) formalizing their partnership to expedite the flagship projects and programs for Mindanao under the 2017 to 2022 Philippine Development Plan.
Mindanews

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

Murad disowns list of BTA nominees
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has disowned a list that circulated on social media of its alleged 41 nominees to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the body that will serve as interim government in the incoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until its first elections in 2022.
The Manila Times

ARMM residents won’t elect regional leaders in May 2019 polls due to BOL ratification
Residents of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) won’t vote for their regional leaders in the May 2019 polls due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic law (BOL)—a measure that replaced the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.
GMA News

What happens to Cotabato barangays not part of new Bangsamoro region?
Five out of  67 barangays in several towns in Cotabato that took part in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite did not get enough "yes" votes, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.
GMA News

NoCot mayor tells people to accept plebiscite results
Mayor Sumulong Sultan of this municipality has called on his constituents to accept the result of the recently-concluded Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite and move forward. Sultan made the appeal after 22 of 23 villages in Pikit seeking inclusion to the proposed Bangsamoro political entity decided to join the expanded autonomous region following the February 6 BOL plebiscite.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

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AFP reports no injuries in 2nd round of BOL plebiscite
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday reported no casualties or injuries in the second round of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite held on February 6.
GMA News

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Groups concerned over peace and order situation in Lanao del Norte after BOL rejection
After six municipalities in Lanao del Norte rejected their inclusion in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, some groups remain fearful that conflict and violence will prevail in the province.
GMA News

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Governor bats for 'Inaul' in fashion
This province hopes the country’s circle of fashion designers for gowns worn to international beauty pageants would help push its colorful “Inaul” loom-woven fabric to foreign markets of trademark designs and trends.
Manila Standard

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Basilan folk want Sampinit Complex made wildlife sanctuary
Residents of this island province want the rainforests in the Sampinit Complex, now free from Abu Sayyaf forces that once ran a shadow government there, declared a protected wildlife reservation.
NDBC News

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte slams silence on student’s supposed drug-related death
President Duterte questioned why there is no outcry over the death of Ashley Abad, a senior high school student who allegedly died from a drug overdose last month.
Manila Bulletin

President wants abad’s boyfriend, companions arrested, charged
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the arrest of Nel Spencer Tiu and the other companions of Ashley Abad at the pre-Sinulog party at the Cebu Business Park last Jan. 19, during which Ashley was said to have ingested a party drug.
Sunstar Cebu, Cebu Daily News

Lapeña, co-respondents in drug cases to file counter-affidavits Monday
Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner and current Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Isidro Lapeña and his co-respondents are expected to submit this Monday their response to the criminal complaints concerning the billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs which were smuggled into the country using magnetic lifters in 2018.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima to Marcelino: Do not be used to testify against me
Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday urged Marine Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino to speak up for the truth and not be manipulated to testify against her on the drug charges she is facing.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Operations/ Incidents

P47.6M suspected shabu seized in Mandaue City, Cebu
At least P47.6 million worth of suspected shabu  was seized from Charlie Fortuna, 24, inside a subdivision in Barangay Cubacob in Mandaue City at past 11 p.m. on Friday.
GMA News, Sunstar Cebu, The Manila Times

LOOK: PDEA seizes P2.8-M party drugs in Makati buy-bust operation
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested 4 people and seized over P2.8 million worth of so-called party drugs in a buy-bust operation in Makati City on Friday, February 8.
Rappler, Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

2 drug suspects killed, 12 nabbed in Bulacan ops
Two drug pushers were killed and 12 other drug suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in the province Thursday. Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan Police Provincial Office director, said Friday that those killed in the operations were Johnson Milliama, a resident of the City of San Jose del Monte, and Narciso Calizon, who was on the drug watch list of the San Ildefonso municipal police.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Logger yields grenade launchers, shotgun, grenades
A logger was arrested in Sto. Nino, South Cotabato for possession of high powered firearms, including two grenade launchers. SOCCSKSARGEN police director Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco said suspect Romeo Desinio, 41, did not resist arrest when operatives served the warrant in his home at 5 a.m. Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, NDBC News

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

P11-M smuggled cigars seized in Zamboanga
Authorities seized a shipment of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP11 million aboard a passenger-cargo ferry in this southern port city, an official said Saturday. Lt. Commander Jimmy Vingno, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the shipment was confiscated at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday inside a commercial ferry that had just docked at the local port from Jolo, Sulu.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Star

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Duterte’s taunts expose Catholics’ ignorance
If President Rodrigo Duterte warned that a persistent fever was nothing to worry about, few people would believe him, since everyone knows from experience and science that rising body temperature indicates possible illness. 
The Manila Times

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DISASTER

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec starts printing ballots for 2019 midterm polls
After delays, the printing of the first batch of ballots for the May 2019 midterm polls began on Saturday. Commission on Elections officials led a walkthrough inside the National Printing Office in Quezon City, a report on "Balitanghali Weekend" said.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Comelec tells candidates to take down campaign materials
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged candidates and political parties to remove campaign materials, which will be considered illegal, once the campaign period starts on Tuesday, February 12.
Manila Bulletin

‘Follow poster rules or face sanctions’
The 90-day campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups starts on Feb. 12 with a stern warning from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to take down unlawful campaign materials. 
Philippine Star

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How Duterte's political style is hurting PDP-Laban in 2019
Parties of sitting presidents have traditionally enjoyed an edge over political rivals during elections. But such is not the case for ruling party PDP-Laban in the 2019 elections, owing to the style of its chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte.
Rappler

Both Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito in Duterte's Senate slate
The two feuding sons of former president Joseph Estrada are in President Rodrigo Duterte's personal Senate slate. Duterte announced on Friday, February 8, that former senator and plunder defendant Jinggoy Estrada will be getting his endorsement for senator in the upcoming May elections.
Rappler

Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Faceoff — Replay, recap, summary, video clips
Twenty-one candidates took center stage as GMA News and Public Affairs mounted Debate 2019: The GMA Senatorial Face-Off on Saturday, February 9, with panelists Mel Tiangco, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, and Jessica Soho and moderators Vicky Morales and Pia Arcangel.
GMA News

Opposition senatorial slate to hold proclamation rally in Naga City
Just two days before senatorial candidates formally enter their bids for the May 13 polls, Vice President Leni Robredo calls again on Filipinos to look into the competence and track record of candidates for Senate come election day.
Manila Bulletin

Roxas bent on job generation
Senatorial candidate Mar Roxas has vowed to work for the creation of more jobs, citing his success story in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) which generated over one million jobs since 2000.
Manila Bulletin

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

More violent polls? Comelec alarmed over shootings amid gun ban
The Commission on Elections on Friday expressed worry over the spate of shooting incidents across the country in spite of the election gun ban implemented by the Philippine National Police.
GMA News

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

House leaders score Lacson for defying parliamentary courtesy
Leaders of the House of Representatives Saturday chided Senator Panfilo Lacson for defying parliamentary courtesy with his relentless public criticism of former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, over pork barrel fund allegations.
Manila Bulletin

Ratified budget gives biggest boost to infra, health projects
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH) bagged the biggest increases on top of their proposed budgets among government agencies in the P3.8-trillion 2019 spending bill, according to figures from Senate finance committee chair Sen. Loren Legarda.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Senate to rush measure to end “endo”
Senators are hoping for the passage of the measure ending the abusive practice of “endo” or contractualization before the 17th Congress ends.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET AND FINANCE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PH role in US Indo-Pacific strategy cited
A ranking US State Department official reaffirmed the Philippines' role, as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in advancing Washington's bid for an open and free Indo-Pacific region.
Philippine News Agency

Geographic curse or blessing?
THE Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that the Philippines signed with the United States in 1951 was supposed to give the country a sense of security against any prospect of an external attack.
Business Mirror

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

30 Chinese cooks, vendors, hairstylists arrested
The Bureau of Immigration has arrested 30 Chinese nationals for working without permits in several establishments in Parañaque City. Acting on a tip from an informant, immigration agents rounded up the illegal workers at SoleMare Parksuites and Aseana Power Station on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard on Thursday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Philippines to look into burning of Malaysian flag
The Philippine government said yesterday that it does not condone the burning of a Malaysian flag by lawyer Elly Pamatong. In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles Jose said Pamatong’s action does not represent the official position of the Philippines. 
Philippine Star

Getting to know the beautiful country of Gambia through Philippine Pink diplomacy
Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and Ambassador Ramzia Diab Ghanim strengthen ties that bind the Philippines and Gambia through scientific, technical, health and medicine e changes. That includes Philippine Pink peanuts and virgin coconut oil.
Philippine Star

West Philippine Sea

‘Bad weather delaying government projects on Pag-Asa Island’
The presence of numerous Chinese fishing boats in the waters near the country’s Pag-Asa Island in the disputed Spratly archipelago is no longer a threat to the islanders. They are more concerned with the completion of the construction of a beaching ramp in the island town.
Philippine Star

LABOR

Subic fair offers 30,000 jobs; some applicants land job on the spot
Some 30,000 jobs were opened to jobseekers at the second "Build Build Build Jobs Jobs Jobs" caravan held at the Subic Gymnasium on Saturday. The venue was jam-packed with more people waiting outside the gymnasium hoping to secure a job from one of around 100 employers.
GMA News

The Philippines may forego $1.5 billion remittances
The Philippines stands to lose as much as $1.5 billion worth of remittances due to the projected 10 to 15 percent decrease in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers particularly to the Middle East due to declining global oil prices.
Philippine Star

TRANSPORTATION

DOTr eyes MRT ban on ‘taho-throwing’ Chinese woman
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking at the possibility of banning the Chinese woman who threw taho at a police officer from riding the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) line.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

Measles cases in Negros Occidental up by 3,333 percent in January
Measles cases in Negros Occidental increased by a whopping 3,333 percent in January this year. Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said measles cases in Negros Occidental went up to 103 from Jan. 1 to 26 compared to the three cases recorded during the same period last year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH records 508% increase in measles cases in Cordillera
Health officials recorded a 508% increase in the number of measles cases in the Cordillera region from January 1 to February 2 compared to the same period in 2018. A total of 79 cases were monitored from January 1 to February 2 compared to 13 cases in 2018. No death was recorded.
Rappler

Duque condoles with parents of kids who died due to measles complications
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday expressed condolences to the parents of children who died due to complications from measles. "Ako'y nakikiramay sa mga magulang," Duque said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
GMA News

PAO vows to go after those responsible for Dengvaxia deaths
Whatever anybody says, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has vowed to prosecute those who should be held liable for the deaths of persons who received shots of the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine.
Manila Bulletin

DOH: Rizal, Laguna, Batangas top measles cases in Calabarzon
The provinces of Rizal and Laguna have the highest recorded measles cases in Calabarzon, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday, February 9. In a statement, DOH-Calabarzon said that the total number of cases in the region has reached 560 from January 1 to February 2 this year, or 409% higher than the previous year's record of 110.
Rappler

Malacañang to LGUs: Get involved in immunization info drive
Malacañang on Saturday, February 9, called on local government units (LGUs) to get involved in the information drive on immunization as part of the national government's effort to bring down measles cases in the country.
Rappler

PhilHealth reminder: Confinement due to measles covered by benefits
PhilHealth reminded members on Saturday, February 9, that measles confinement is covered by its benefits. Coverage for measles ranges from P7,700 to P25,700. Uncomplicated cases are covered P7,700, while pneumonia in measles is P15,000. Measles with complication of meningitis is covered P25,700.
Rappler

UNICEF urges parents, caregivers to vaccinate their children amid measles outbreak
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) called on parents and caregivers to have their children vaccinated after the Department of Health (DOH) declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas earlier in the week.
GMA News

Save the Children Philippines tells parents to get their children vaccinated
Amid reported measles outbreak in various parts of the country, an international organization promoting the children’s rights appealed to parents to avail of vaccines for the survival not only of their own children but of others as well.
Manila Bulletin

Pediatric Society asks fellow health workers to help in vaccine education
Pediatricians urged their fellow healthcare providers to educate every patient on the importance of immunization, amid measles outbreaks in certain regions in the country.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Villar regrets President’s veto of PCA bill; vow to work with him to improve the measure
Senator Cynthia Villar on Saturday expressed regret over President Duterte’s veto of the bill strengthening the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) board.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte wants more 'safeguards' on bill reconstituting PCA: Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte would like "more safeguards" on the bill reconstituting the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Malacañang said Saturday after the chief executive rejected the measure.
ABS-CBN News

EDUCATION

From kinder to Grade 12, kids to get drug education
President Duterte has given the go signal for the Department of Health (DOH) to educate school children from kindergarten to Grade 12 about the ill effects of taking illegal drugs.
Philippine Star

ENERGY

DOE seeks to standardize e-vehicle charging stations
The Department of Energy (DOE) is drafting a regulatory framework that will standardize charging stations to support the still nascent electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Philippine Star

Power cooperatives waive collection of bill deposits
Ten power coops have waived the collection of bill deposits as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) revisits its rules. They comprise five electric cooperatives (ECs) in Luzon, two in Visayas and three in Mindanao.
Philippine Star

POVERTY

VP Leni urges early bicam to institutionalize conditional cash program
Vice President Leni Robredo is hopeful that the two chambers of Congress will convene soon the bicameral conference committee on the institutionalization of the government’s conditional cash transfer program.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING

Pag-IBIG housing loans grow 16% in 2018
Pag-IBIG Fund released P75.31 billion in home loans in 2018, besting by 16 percent its previous record of P65.13 billion home loans in 2017. The amount financed the acquisition and construction of 90,375 homes for Pag-IBIG members, 12 percent higher than the 80,964 homes financed in 2017. Of these, 21,389 or 24 percent were for socialized housing units given to minimum-wage and low-income earners.
Philippine Star

TOURISM

From Duterte, a suggestion to make tourism ad more fun
Apparently for President Duterte, it will be more fun if the three secretaries on top of the country’s big-ticket environment cleanups, such as Boracay and Manila Bay, appear in the advertisement refreshing the slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Culture change needed to restore Manila Bay
Culture change among Filipinos is needed if the polluted Manila Bay is to be restored and preserved for the long-term, according to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Manila Bulletin

Put people in Manila Bay rehab plan — groups
Twelve people’s organizations joined forces and formed the Kilusan para sa Makataong Rehabilitasyon ng Manila Bay to demand a propeople rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Robredo urges gov’t to aid people displaced by Manila Bay rehab
Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday praised the ongoing rehabilitation of the hyperpolluted Manila Bay but urge the government to help the people displaced by the program.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Mislatel ready to become ‘best telco provider’ in the Philippines
The consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and state-owned China Telecom said it is ready to be the country’s best telecommunications provider even as  it continues to hurdle issues concerning its entry into the sector.
Philippine Star

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR