Peace Talks

Duterte dissolves gov’t peace panel in talks with Reds
President Rodrigo Duterte has dissolved the government panel negotiating for peace with the communist rebels led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
GMA News Online ABS-CBN News Philippine News Agency

Duterte cancels appointment of Bello, 4 others as gov’t peace negotiators
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has terminated the appointment of government peace negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks with the communist rebels.
Philippine Daily Inquirer SunStar

Mindanao IPs come forward, offer help to end insurgency
MANILA -- Worn out from the conflict brought by the communist movement in the region, some members of the indigenous people (IP) on Wednesday called on the government to intensify efforts to get rid of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in Mindanao.
Philippine News Agency

GRP panel to be reconstituted for localized peace talks
MANILA -- The termination of appointments of the members of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Negotiating Panel will pave the way for the creation of an inclusive panel that will supervise localized peace engagements, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Reds respect Duterte’s termination of gov’t peace panel
LUCENA CITY – President Duterte has the right to terminate the appointment of government peace negotiators with the communist insurgents, according to the rebel’s chief peace negotiator.
Manila Bulletin

Incidents/ Operations   





 

Southern Philippines: Two Suspected Abu Sayyaf Militants Killed in Firefight
Philippine security forces have killed two suspected Abu Sayyaf extremists on southern Jolo Island, one of whom was believed to be the last remaining militant involved in a cross-border kidnapping into Malaysia 19 years ago, the military said Wednesday.
Benar News

Community support leads to neutralization of ASG sub leader
An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader and another bandit were killed while two firearms were captured in the most recent encounter with the ASG in Talipao. Sulu on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
Manila Bulletin

Misuari to declare war if gov’t fails to push federalism – Duterte
MANILA, Philippines—Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari has threatened to “go to war” if the government fails to pursue federalism, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer ABS-CBN News

Abu Sayyaf leader in Sipadan kidnapping killed in Sulu
MANILA, Philippines — The remaining Abu Sayyaf leader involved in the kidnapping of 21 tourists in Sipadan, Borneo, 19 years ago was killed in an encounter with Army soldiers in Sulu, the military said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte, Misuari meet anew in Malacañang
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte and Moro National Liberation Front founding chairperson Nur Misuari met again in Malacañang Tuesday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Desperate ASG Loosing Space and Resources in the Island of Simusa
Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista, Jolo Sulu – Another encounter with the ASG transpired in Simusa Island, Municipality of Banguingui on March 18 2019 at 1144 AM. The Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu (PMRFS) Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 that has been conducting operations in the island engaged the terrorists ASG under a certain Najir Arik. The firefight happened after members of the ASG tried to get to a potable water source in the Island.
Kalinaw News

MARAWI

Debris clearing of Marawi’s Ground Zero done by August 30, Del Rosario says
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 19 March) — Clearing of debris and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) at Marawi’s Ground Zero “will be finished by August 30” that will pave the way for the start of repair works at the main affected area (MAA), Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chair of Task Force Bangon Marawi (TBFM) on Tuesday told over a thousand residents who have yet to return home almost two years after Islamic State-inspired militants invaded the city.
MindaNews

Del Rosario: Marawi’s ‘Ground Zero’ residents can return home by September 2019
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 20 March) – Residents of the 24 barangays in the 250-hectare ‘Ground Zero,’ the former battleground between government forces and the Maute Group in 2017, can finally return to their villages to repair or rebuild their homes by the first week of September 2019 after the debris clearing is done by August 30, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chair of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) said at the consultation dialogue held at the provincial gym here Tuesday.
MindaNews

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

How prevalent is far-right extremism?
The British security minister has said it is "perfectly possible" a far-right attack could happen in the UK and has raised concerns about the radicalisation of individuals online.
BBC News

After shootings, UK man watches over Muslims in prayer
Amidst the violence of the Christchurch shootings, one man in Manchester headed to a mosque with a message of solidarity last March 15.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BARMM

BARMM inauguration reset again; new date is March 29
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 19 March) – From March 11 to March 21, to March 25, to March 29.
MindaNews

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 
 

DRUGS

Operations/ Incidents

2 cops wounded in shootout with drug suspect
Two policemen were wounded after shooting it out with a suspected drug pusher in a buy-bust in Datu Paglas town of Maguindanao Wednesday morning.
Manila Bulletin Mindanao Examiner

3 drug suspects slain in Nueva Ecija
CABANATUAN CITY — Three alleged drug pushers were killed in successive anti-drugs operations in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, police said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BI: Mayor on ‘narcolist’ has no derogatory record
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has confirmed that one of the local officials included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s narcolist has been allowed to leave the country Tuesday evening.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Narcopoliticians leaving PHL 'suspicious,' may face admin case —PDEA chief
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino on Wednesday made a warning that narcopoliticians who want to leave the country may face an administrative case.
GMA News Online

PDEA chief: Seized P1.1-B shabu came from Golden Triangle Region
The P1.1 billion worth of shabu seized in Muntinlupa City's  Ayala Alabang Village may have come from the so-called Golden Triangle Region, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday.
GMA News Online

P1.1-B worth of shabu seized in Ayala Alabang, Festival Mall buy-busts
MANILA, Philippines – Operatives led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency(PDEA) seized P1.1 billion worth of methamphetamine (shabu) in separate operations in Muntinlupa City on Tuesday, March 19.
Rappler

 
Cops seize P300,000 worth of marijuana in QC buy-bust
MANILA, Philippines — Over P300,000 worth of marijuana were confiscated by the police in Quezon City on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mayor tagged in narco-list leaves country
MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday confirmed that a mayor tagged in the President's narco-list left the country on Tuesday night.
ABS-CBN News

DILG files raps vs 45 mayors for failing to organize anti-drug abuse councils
MANILA, Philippines — Forty-five mayors are facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged failure to organize an Anti-Illegal Drugs Abuse Council (ADAC) in their respective local government units (LGUs), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Ampatuan compound raid yields explosives, ammunition
COTABATO CITY -- Police raided on Tuesday the compound of the late Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao and seized explosives and ammunition.
Philippine News Agency Philippine Star Manila Standard


CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

KIDNAPPING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

OPINION: Duterte’s invented reason why the Int'l Criminal Court cannot prosecute him
President Rodrigo Duterte claims the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot prosecute him mainly because the Rome Statute which created the ICC never took effect in the Philippines.
ABS-CBN News

Senators support PH’s ICC withdrawal
TACLOBAN City –Senators allied with the administration of President Duterte have expressed support for the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Manila Bulletin

Robredo on ICC exit: Unfortunate
DAGUPAN CITY — Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday described as “unfortunate” the Philippines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying there was a reason why the country was a part of it.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CHR probes alleged illegal detention, extortion in QC barangay hall
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday condemned the alleged illegal detention and extortion done by barangay officials in Quezon City.
Philippine Star

Press Freedom/Freedom of Expression

NUPL: 'Surveillance' on foreign delegation shows threats vs Philippine lawyers
MANILA, Philippines — The reported harassment and intimidation of a delegation of foreign lawyers in the country gives credence to claims of attacks against Fiipino lawyers, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers president Edre Olalia said.
Philippine Star

Delegation of foreign lawyers claims intimidation, harassment
MANILA, Philippines — The delegation of foreign lawyers that looked into the killings of Philippine lawyers decried alleged intimidation and harassment during their stay in the country.
Philippine Star

Killings 

Ex-town treasurer killed, linked to drug trade
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A gunman shot dead Tuesday a former municipal treasurer outside a church in Barangay Labangal, this city.
Manila Bulletin

Ex-mayor of Zamboanga del Sur town ambushed in Lanao Norte
ILIGAN CITY – The former mayor of Dumingag town in Zamboanga del Sur was ambushed along the national highway of Bacolod town in Lanao del Norte at 8:20  a.m. Wednesday (March 20).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Martial Law  

ELECTION RELATED

Abra declared as election hotspot
BANGUED, Abra — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Tuesday declared the whole province of Abra as an election hotspot, placing it under its full control.
Philippine News Agency

Entire Mindanao is “Category Red Election Hotspot”
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 19 March) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday declared the entire Mindanao as “Category Red Election Hotspot” in the run-up to the mid-term elections in May.
MindaNews

Lay leaders endorse 10 'servant-leaders' for Senate
MANILA - An inter-faith group of lay leaders endorsed 10 senatorial candidates it believes will be "servant-leaders," its chairman said Wednesday.
ABS-CBN News

Opposition

Administration

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

DISASTER

Fire hits Barangay Damayang Lagi, QC
MANILA, Philippines – Fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay Damayang Lagi in Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Court of Appeals won't stop Trillanes rebellion trial for now
MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) will not stop “at this time” the reopening of the rebellion trial of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Rappler  Philippine Star

‘Boracay closure ruling sets a bad precedent’
THE Supreme Court has been asked to reconsider its decision upholding the legality of President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 475, which placed the island of Boracay under a state of calamity and ordered its temporary closure to pave the way for its rehabilitation.
Business Mirror

LEGISLATIVE

BREAKING: Duterte signs EO to fund 4th tranche of salary hike for gov’t workers
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) providing funds for the fourth tranche of salary increase for government employees.
Philippine Daily Inquirer  ABS-CBN News

House to retrieve budget books from Senate in bid to break budget impasse
MANILA - The House of Representatives on Wednesday said it will retrieve the budget books it sent to the Senate but clarified it was not withdrawing the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) it approved.
ABS-CBN News

Arroyo: House version of budget stays
The House of Representatives has not withdrawn its version of the 2019 budget, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said on Tuesday, refuting claims that her chamber has backed down in its monthlong standoff with the Senate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Maternity leave law to affect hiring of women, firms admit
Costs entailed in implementing the Expanded Maternity Leave Law would affect the decision to hire women by a majority of small and large companies surveyed by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop).
Philippine Daily Inquirer  Business Mirror

Palace ‘concerned’ over budget impasse but insists on waiting
MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday expressed concern anew over the ongoing budget impasse on the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 but insisted on waiting for the two chambers of Congress to settle their differences.
Manila Bulletin

 We didn’t withdraw budget copy, says GMA
THE leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday clarified that it has not withdrawn the enrolled proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Business Mirror

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Angara urges LGUs to implement 30-year-old rainwater harvest law
As Metro Manila residents struggle with the water crisis, reelectionist Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Wednesday urged authorities to enforce the 30-year old law mandating the collection of rainwater in all barangays to prevent flooding and ensure a continuous provision of clean water during the dry season.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Second US Navy ship drops anchor in Manila in less than a week
MANILA, Philippines — The US Navy made its second port visit to Manila in less than a week. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

PHL posts BOP surplus of $467 million in February
THE Philippine economy continued to earn dollars in February due mainly to gains from the foreign-exchange operations of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the government reported on Tuesday.
Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

China loan better option for Kaliwa dam project – gov't
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20) — The Duterte administration on Wednesday said undertaking the Kaliwa dam project through a loan from China will be more beneficial to the public in terms of cost and subsequent fees charged to customers.
CNN Philippines

China will fund 2 railway projects in Luzon, Mindanao – DOF
The rollout of two massive railway projects in Central Luzon and Mindanao will be financed by Chinese loans, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Sandiganbayan: Jinggoy, Napoles can seek outright dismissal of plunder raps
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday allowed former Senator Jinggoy Estrada and pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to seek the outright dismissal of the plunder charges they are facing.
Philippine Daily Inquirer CNN Philippines Philippine Star

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Locsin meets Chinese vice president in Beijing
MANILA, Philippines — As the first order of business on his visit to Beijing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. met with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Tuesday.
Philippine Star

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

TRANSPORTATION

Sticker, RFID pinag-aaralang ipalit sa mga plaka ng motorsiklo: Ejercito
MANILA - Tinitingnan ng mga awtoridad kung maaaring rubber plates, mga sticker o mga chip na puwedeng mai-scan ang dapat ipalit sa mga plaka ng motorsiklo, sabi ni Sen. JV Ejercito Miyerkoles.
ABS-CBN News

HEALTH 

EcoWaste calls on DOH to ban BPA in children’s products
MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday to enforce a long-overdue policy to protect babies from bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in hard plastic linked to endocrine and reproductive disorders.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Losses from El Niño now P1.3 billion
DAMAGE and losses from El Niño have now reached P1.33 billion, the Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday.
Business Mirror CNN Philippines Philippine Star

 2019 National Palm Oil Congress reels off in Butuan City; growers eyeing to plant 1-M hectares of palm trees in Mindanao
BUTUAN CITY – Growers in the palm oil industry are eyeing to plant palm trees in one million hectares in Mindanao to support the market in the global demand.
Manila Bulletin

Mayor Sara appeals to DA: Help coconut farmers
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Responding to the appeal of coconut farmers in Region 8, Hugpong ng Pagbabago chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to immediately address the economic burden being suffered by the coconut industry as a result of the plunging price of copra.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Boracay resort demolished to clear no-build zone – DENR
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 20) — The government has demolished a resort on Boracay Island as part of efforts to rehabilitate and ensure the cleanliness of the world-famous destination, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday.
CNN Philippines

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Asia's coal addiction puts chokehold on its air-polluted cities
KUALA LUMPUR - Over the past year, the number of patients treated each day in the hospital unit where cardiologist Ade Imasanti Sapardan works in Indonesia's capital has almost doubled to about 100.
ABS-CBN News

DENR sees defects in sewage system of Siargao Tourist-belt
BUTUAN CITY – The Task Force Siargao of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday reported that dozens of commercial establishments and “Homestay” units in the tourist-belt zone in Siargao Islands Protected Land and Seascape (SPLAS) have been allegedly found to have no proper sewage system.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

Lawmakers ask Duterte to fire MWSS execs
Lawmakers are demanding the ouster of top officials of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a regulatory agency, for their failure to prevent the water shortage in large parts of Metro Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

No relief yet: La Mesa water level keeps dropping
With thousands of consumers in Metro Manila still suffering from water shortages, La Mesa Dam offered no relief as its water level dropped further on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte tells water officials: Shape up or ship out
President Duterte has threatened to fire Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) officials and terminate the contracts with two water concessionaires amid his outrage over their alleged failure to prevent the recent water supply interruption in Metro Manila.
Manila Bulletin GMA News Online Rappler

Manila Water told: Pay consumers
SENATORS on Tuesday pressed the Manila Water Co. Inc. to compensate all consumers affected by the water supply shortage in its concession covering eastern Metro Manila and parts of Rizal province.
Manila Times

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

China to donate equipment as PCOO ‘aggressively’ rehabs gov’t media
MANILA, Philippines – China is donating P15 million worth of equipment to the Presidential Communications  Operations Office (PCOO) as the administration “aggressively” rehabilitates government media, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR