PACC backs Duterte’s call for Reds to kill corrupt officials
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has stood by President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for communist rebels to spare state forces and, instead, target corrupt men in government for assassination.
The Manila Times

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Militant group slams security forces for preventing them from staging their protest
The militant group Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) yesterday slammed the military and police for barring 300 farmers from staging a “Calvary of the Poor’’ protest action against Martial Law in Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro last Friday.
Manila Bulletin

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50 Lumad NPAs and Supporters Repent, Surrender with Firearms in Agusan del Sur
50 Indigenous People’s (IPs) who are former members and supporters of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) brought their firearms, returned to the folds of the law and pledged their loyalty to the government through the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army at Brgy. Poblacion, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur last Holy Wednesday April 18, 2019.
Kalinaw News

Eastmincom says 13 NPA rebels surrendered during Holy Week
A total of 13 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) yielded to authorities during the Holy Week, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said Saturday.
GMA News, Philippine Star

Gen. Dagoy’s “peace rally” is fake; NPA cannot be defeated in Leyte because of deep roots
The Efren Martires Command (EMC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas today said the NPA has struck deep roots in Leyte and is standing up to the all-out war of the US-Duterte regime, thus dismissing the “peace rally” held last April 13 in San Isidro, Leyte as a charade orchestrated by Army brigade commander Gen. Lope Dagoy.
PRWC

Bauko tourism activities suspended
Mayor Abraham Akilit announced that tourism-related activities in this upland municipality remains suspended until the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military declare the conflict- areas safe.
The Manila Times

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations   

Ranking BIFF official slain in Cotabato raid
Joint police and military operatives killed a top official of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a raid in his safehouse in Midsayap town of Cotabato.
Manila Bulletin, Kalinaw News, The Manila Times

MARAWI

1st Politicon PH Forum supports Marawi soldiers; will donate all ticket proceeds
Gavagives is making a second attempt to reach its Marawi funding goal for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the upcoming Politicon 2019, a showcase political debate between politicians, candidates and social media personalities in an open town hall format to be held on April 27, 2019 at the Rizal Park Hotel Ballroom.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Khalifa Haftar's force lauds Donald Trump's support for war against terrorism
Remarks made by President Donald Trump show that the United States believes in the pivotal role of the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the war against terrorism, Sky News Arabia cited the LNA spokesman as saying on Friday.
The National UAE

Bosnia Brings Back, Detains ISIS Fighter From Syria
A Bosnian national suspected of fighting for ISIS in Syria has been transferred to Bosnia and put in detention, Bosnia’s prosecutor’s office said on Saturday. After the collapse of ISIS' self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq, countries around the world are wrestling with how to handle militants and their families seeking to return.
Asharq Al-Awsat

'Unprecedented' surge of online extremism after Christchurch
The Christchurch terrorist attack has prompted an unprecedented surge in online activity by white supremacists as well as a call by a group with Islamic State links for attacks on Australians travelling in Indonesia, according to ongoing analysis by an American intelligence firm.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Iraq summit brings together rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran
A summit organised by Iraq brought together regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran on Saturday as part of a broader effort by Iraqi leaders to fashion the country's image as a friend among neighbours.
Aljazeera

Lyra McKee killing: 'New breed of terrorism' in Northern Ireland, says PSNI
A new breed of terrorist is coming through the ranks in Northern Ireland, the detective leading the hunt for Lyra McKee’s killers said.
The Guardian
 

BARMM

Angara says funding for BARMM now available with 2019 budget signed
With the 2019 P3.7-trillion General Appropriations Act (national budget) now in effect, reelectionist Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara said Saturday the newly established Bangsamoro government will be assured of crucial seed funding to finance development projects and rehabilitation of areas affected by conflict in the new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Drug suspect apprehended in Maguindanao
Government authorities arrested drug personality after a random check point operation conducted in So. Tamlang, Brgy Kiladap, Talitay, Maguindanao on April 19, 2019.
Kalinaw News

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

First ever Cavendish banana farm rising in Lamitan City
Local sectors are euphoric over the setting up of the first ever 1,000-hectare Cavendish banana farm in Lamitan City with the help of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
NDBC News, Philippine Star

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Operations/ Incidents

4 students nabbed over P13K worth of shabu in QC apartelle
Four students were arrested for possession of P13,600 worth of shabu inside an apartelle in Quezon City on the evening of Good Friday. The students were Zachary Benedict Almorado, 21, and James Amaro, 19; while two working students are 21-year-old Christian Miko and 19-year-old Joshua Dela Cruz.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

1 kg of suspected illegal drugs washed ashore in Quezon province
A package containing a kilogram of suspected illegal drugs was recovered along the seashore of Burdeos, Quezon province on the morning of Black Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

P1M shabu seized in Guadalupe drug bust
After confiscating nearly a half a million peso worth of suspected shabu four days ago in Barangay Guadalupe, police this time got a one million peso drug haul during an anti-illegal drug operation on Black Saturday in Banawa of the  Cebu City barangay.
Cebu Daily News

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Man nabbed for alleged rape of stepdaughter, illegal firearms
A 47-year-old man was arrested at his house for allegedly raping his stepdaughter twice and for owning several illegal firearms, the Pasay City Police Station said on Black Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Palace: Pangilinan is ‘deaf and blind’ to Duterte’s achievements
Sen. Francis Pangilinan is “deaf and blind” to the achievements of the Duterte administration, Malacañan Palace said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Bill seeking to reconfigure the National Museum awaits Duterte’s signature
The bill seeking to rename the National Museum into “National Museum of the Philippines” is ready for President Duterte’s signature.
Manila Bulletin

BI chief praises President’s move for collected fees to fund salary increases
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente expressed his gratitude to President Duterte for “recognizing the plight of immigration officers nationwide”.
Manila Bulletin

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Robredo spends Holy Week at home in Naga with kids
While millions of Catholic faithful in the country were on vacation to observe Holy Week, Vice President Leni Robredo was out of the public eye to spend her own Lenten break in her hometown of Naga City.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

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Campaign period resumes after ban during Maundy Thursday, Good Friday
Candidates running for a political position in the upcoming elections are again allowed to campaign on Saturday after a two-day ban. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier banned candidates for various political posts from campaigning on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in observance of Holy Week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Colmenares hits Duterte’s ‘below the belt’ attacks vs Diokno, Hilbay 
President Rodrigo Duterte’s personal attacks against human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay were “below the belt, dirty and vindictive,” Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares said on Black Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EcoWaste Coalition prods Comelec, candidates to work together for clean and green polls
An environmental group prodded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and all political aspirants to join hands in ensuring and preparing for cleaner and greener May 13, 2019 mid-term polls. Quezon City based EcoWaste Coalition pressed the poll body and all candidates gunning for national and local posts to exercise their sense of patriotism and “rally behind a waste-free exercise of grassroots democracy’’.
Manila Bulletin

Oppositions

Pangilinan defends Roxas from Duterte’s attacks
Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan on Saturday defended former Interior secretary and senatorial aspirant Mar Roxas from President Duterte who implicated him to the 2015 Mamasapano massacre.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Chel Diokno vows to review the IPRA law if elected to the Senate
Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Chel Diokno called for stronger protection for lumads, eyeing for a review of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) if elected to the Senate.
Manila Bulletin

I’m voting for the opposition, here’s why
In the past three elections, I never shared my list of Senate candidates because I wanted to stay neutral. Instead, I came out with a “consider list” based on a selection criteria. Staying neutral is not making a stand in fighting for what is right for our country. 
The Manila Times

Administration

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

DISASTER

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Reps push Senate for the passage of “Anti-Racial, Ethnic and Religious Discrimination Act”
Congressmen are calling on the Senate to pass its version of the proposed “Anti-Racial, Ethnic and Religious Discrimination Act” which has remained pending in the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities.
Manila Bulletin

Paranaque solon seeks creation of P1-B special fund to assist distressed OFWs
Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez is proposing the creation of P1-billion Special Assistance Fund to help assist distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) abroad.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

Philippines improves transmission of policy action, says HSBC
British banking giant HSBC said reforms undertaken by authorities in the Philippines have improved the transmission of monetary action of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Joseph Incalcaterra, chief economist for ASEAN, said monetary transmission varies widely in the region as the BSP is seen slashing interest rates as well as the level of deposits banks are required to keep with the central bank.
Philippine Star

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Elevating Philippines’ economic profile
The recent Philippine economic briefing in Washington that the Philippine embassy helped organize with the Department of Finance was well attended. Many of those present were impressed at the economic development plans of the country. 
Philippine Star

Duterte, Arroyo to lead first Boao business forum in Manila
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the first Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in Manila to be held Monday and Tuesday, April 22 and 23. Themed "Concerted Action for Common Development in the New Era," the forum is set to host 300 Filipino and Chinese business leaders to explore investment opportunities in the two nations.
ABS-CBN News

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

Philippines woos US investors to Build Build Build
The Philippines is wooing American investors to participate in the country’s massive infrastructure buildup through the Build Build Build program during the Philippine Day Forum held in Washington, following successful roadshows in Japan and China.
Philippine Star

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

COA calls attention of Lung Center on P22 million medical care refunds, other violations
The Commission on Audit has ordered the Lung Center of the Philippines to track down former patients whom it owes more P22 million in medical care refunds. Otherwise, the LCP must return to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation the amount that remains unclaimed after the lapse of sixty days as prescribed by law.
Manila Bulletin

Sandiganbayan affirms conviction of ex-Palawan vice governor
The Sandiganbayan First Division has affirmed its decision to convict former Palawan vice governor David Ponce De Leon for two estafa through falsification charges.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Keep an eye on Sabah amid territorial disputes, Locsin warns
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. on Saturday said the Philippines should keep an eye on Sabah, as “some jerks” are proposing that the country should “compromise” its historical claims on it.
CNN Philippines

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West Philippine Sea

Developing nuclear weapons not the way to proceed on sea row – defense chief
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday said developing the Philippines’ nuclear arsenal is not the way to enforce the victory it has over China in an international tribunal. “Develop our own nuclear weapons to enforce the tribunal ruling? Very unlikely for several reasons,” Lorenzana said in a statement sent to reporters.
CNN Philippines

Locsin denies China’s poaching in Scarborough Shoal ‘just about clams’
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. has clarified that he does not think China's extraction of giant clams at the Scarborough Shoal "is just about clams," and has vowed to do action for the protection of the endangered species.
GMA News

LABOR

PH diplomat asks families to convince OFWs in Libya to come home
The Philippine embassy’s charge d'affaires in Libya appealed to families of overseas Filipino worker to convince the OFWs to come home amid the conflict in the capital city of Tripoli.
Rappler

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH 

DOH offers tips for beating the summer heat
The Department of Health (DOH) has shared some tips to keep people safe in the intense summer heat. In a tweet on Saturday, the DOH gave the following tips:
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Villar inquires into agricultural fund amid reports of beneficiaries not receiving benefits
Senator Cynthia Villar is seeking an inquiry into the state of the government’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) amid supposed complaints that scholars do not receive their benefits.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

A group of teachers seeks the junking of the evaluation system of teachers
A group of teachers will hold a protest action in front of the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office to once again urge the agency’s leadership to junk the implementation of a “burdensome, unnecessary, and unjust” evaluation system for teachers.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd announces conduct of art and culture confab and exhibits
The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to conduct activities that will strengthen awareness and appreciation of the country’s rich cultural heritage – particularly among learners and teachers.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Water crisis

MWSS upbeat on Wawa water project
THE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) aims to jump-start the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project in Rizal province to improve the water supply in Metro Manila.
The Manila Times

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR