‘Unmasking’ of Makabayan bloc to continue, says Parlade
Defense officials will continue to expose to the public the alleged links between the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. Thus said Major Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict amid the electioneering charges filed by the Left-leaning bloc against the military.
Tempo

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Sister of boy slain by Reds: 'I will never forgive NPAs’
For Girlie Jane Raymunde, the latest atrocity of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Las Navas, Northern Samar resulting in the untimely death of his 10-year-old brother is unforgivable. In her social media post on April 19, 22-year-old Girlie Jane, an agriculture student of University of Eastern Philippines, said she almost lost her breath when she saw the dead body of his brother Armando, whose dream was to become a soldier.
Philippine News Agency

Remains of 3 slain NPA rebels in NegOcc claimed by relatives
The remains of the three Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) fighters killed in an encounter with government troops in Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Wednesday have already been claimed by their families. This was confirmed by the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade on Saturday night after releasing the names of the communist rebel casualties.
Philippine News Agency

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Eastmincom facilitates E-CLIP enrolment of 13 NPA surrenderers
Some 13 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who were received by the different Philippine Army units last week are undergoing assessment and interview for their enrolment to the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Philippine News Agency

E-CLIP Leaflet made paranoid NPAs to surrender on Holy Week
Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program leaflet guided six members of the CPP-NPA Terrorist Group (CNTG) in two batches to the government during the holy week at Colon Sabak and Dongan Pekong all of Matanao, Davao Del Sur respectively.
Kalinaw News

PNP offers security for former Reds
The Philippine National Police wants to secure communist rebels who surrender to the government following reports that some of those who availed themselves of the localized peace talks are being hunted down by their former comrades.
Tempo

Peace Talks

Gov’t army in Eastern Visayas OK with local peace talks
The military in Eastern Visayas is in favor of localized peace talks with members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Incidents/ Operations   

MARAWI

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

LIVE UPDATE: Sri Lanka explosions kill more than 200
What's happening: At least 207 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of explosions across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, one of the most sacred days of the year for Christians.
CNN

World leaders condemn Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka
World leaders expressed shock and condemnation over the deadly blasts in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 200 people and wounded hundreds of others. Dozens of foreign nationals were among the dead in the near simultaneous blasts, which targeted Catholic church worshippers on Easter Sunday as well as luxury hotels in the heart of the capital, Colombo.
Aljazeera

Regional and international leaders denounce Sri Lanka attacks
Politicians and religious leaders were united in their shock and condemnation of the explosions that left at least 156 dead and 300 injured in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The Catholic Church in the Holy Land has voiced support for Sri Lanka’s Christians and condemned the attacks.
Al-Arabiya

Philippines denounces Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka
The Philippine government expressed its outrage over the deadly bombings that hit Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, April 21, saying that terrorism "has no place in society." "Our nation, together with the rest of the world, is outraged by these latest senseless acts of terror and violence," said Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo in a statement on Easter Sunday.
Rappler

No reports of Filipino casualties in Sri Lanka blasts — DFA
There has been no report of any Filipino hurt following a series of explosions in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Reaction to Sri Lanka attacks
Easter Day bomb blasts at three Sri Lankan churches and four hotels killed 138 people and wounded more than 400, hospital and police officials said, following a lull in major attacks since the end of the civil war 10 years ago.
Reuters

Explosions in Sri Lanka – in pictures
Multiple attacks in churches and luxury hotels as worshippers attended Easter services have killed more than 200 people.
The Guardian

As the Sri Lanka attacks show, Christians worldwide face serious persecution
It is ignored in the west, but Christianity is the most persecuted religion. Why is there such silence on the issue?
The Guardian

Sri Lanka caught off-guard by attacks despite its violent recent past
Coordinated bomb attacks on worshippers attending Easter church services and multiple other targets across Sri Lanka were the work of terrorists or religious extremists, a government minister has suggested.
The Guardian

LTTE in Sri Lanka and PKK in Turkey – Understanding Secular Ethno-Separatist Terrorism
This piece was originally authored prior to today’s terrorist attacks. It is being re-published to offer insight into the current situation. Eurasia Future condemns the crime against humanity that has taken place in Sri Lanka. 
Eurasia Future

Foreign Secretary's Easter Sunday op-ed on Christian persecution
In an op-ed published in the Mail on Sunday, Jeremy Hunt writes that the UK stands in solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world.
UK Government

Sri Lanka: curfew imposed, but tourists can still travel to the airport during these hours
Travellers flying out of Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport can still travel to the airport during the country's imposed curfew, which will be until at least 6am Monday morning local time, according to SriLankan Airlines.
The National UAE

Sri Lanka's second largest foreign exchange earner rocked by terrorism
Eight bombings on Easter Sunday that killed more than 200 people, risk reversing the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's tourism industry, the second largest foreign exchange earner for the island nation, which emerged from a 26-year civil war a decade ago.
The National UAE 

Sri Lanka blocks social media sites after deadly explosions
The government of Sri Lanka has temporarily blocked access to several social media services following deadly explosions that ripped through the country, killing at least 207 people and injuring hundreds more.
Techcrunch

Sri Lanka explosions: No Singaporean casualties so far; President Halimah, PM Lee condemn attacks
The terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday are aimed at creating conflicts and hatred among communities, President Halimah Yacob said on Sunday (April 21), offering condolences to the families of the victims and the injured. 
The Straits Times

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Web of Hate Is Rooted in Putting All Muslims in One Category
It’s clear that Islamophobia is on the rise globally. This antipathy towards adherents of the Muslim faith is often presented as a violent reaction to terrorism committed by the Islamic State. This suggests that if terrorism by so-called Islamic groups ends, Islamophobia will too.
Morocco World News

Muslims mark 15-day countdown to Ramadan
While the Catholic faithful celebrate Easter Sunday, the world’s Muslims silently fete the weekend with thanksgiving for the Nisfu Sa’aban—the start of a 15-day countdown to the first day of Ramadan.
Manila Standard

BARMM

BTA sessions resume nearly a month after inauguration
The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) resumes sessions on April 22, 23 and 24 in Cotabato City, nearly a month after its March 29 inauguration.
Mindanews

BARMM police urged to help in transformation of Moro combatants
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. urged top police officials of the newly-established Bangsamoro autonomous region to help create a more conducive environment for the smooth implementation of the normalization track of the Bangsamoro peace agreement.
Philippine News Agency

Bangsamoro to invest in ‘cash crops’
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao  will invest in long-term cropping of initially  high value, fruit- bearing trees  in  boosting  the region’s  agricultural potentials.
Manila Standard

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

Abu Sayyaf killed in counter-terrorist ops in Tawi-Tawi
A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) covered by martial law order for rebellion was killed in a counter-terrorist operation in the province of Tawi-Tawi, police reported. The Tawi-Tawi Provincial Police Office identified the slain ASG bandit as Sabri Teka Opong, who carries the aliases of Sika, Sabri and Umpung, and is listed as number 683 of the Martial Law Instruction number one.
Philippine News Agency

DRUGS

Vile video vs Duterte the work of Otso Diretso, Trillanes’ writer and US-funded websites
CYBERcrime experts have determined that the black-propaganda video titled “Ang Totoong Narcolist,” which fabricated preposterous, vile allegations against President Duterte and his children, that they were linked to the illegal drug syndicates, was released by a dubious website that rooted for Yellow “Otso Diretso” candidates.
The Manila Times

Bacolod police probes abduction of ex-cop linked to drugs
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is still investigating the reported abduction of a retired policeman who was among those charged for alleged involvement in multi-million shabu smuggling. A Police Station 2 report identified the victim as retired Maj. Lito Pirote, 55, a resident of C. L. Montelibano Drive, Barangay Villamonte in this city.
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

Authorities uproot 17k marijuana plants in Davao Sur
Authorities uprooted late Thursday 17,000 marijuana plants in Kiblawan town in Davao del Sur. The operation was a joint initiative of the Davao del Sur provincial police office, the Kiblawan municipal police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion.
NDBC News

‘Shabu’ worth P18M seized in Naga City buy-busts
Some P18 million worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) were confiscated from two Nigerians and a native of Camarines Sur province in separate buy-bust operations in Naga City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

P130k worth of ‘shabu’ seized in Laguna
Police and anti-drugs agents seized suspected shabu worth P130,000 in an operation in Siniloan town in Laguna province, authorities said Sunday. They also arrested Rayanah Gamama Delna, 54, a vendor and resident of Barangay Mendiola in the town.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

5 arrested for carrying firearms at Comelec checkpoint
Five armed persons have been arrested by authorities in a Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint in Catanduanes. Catanduanes Provincial Director Col. Paul Abay disclosed on Sunday that police authorities arrested Rius de la Cruz, Arnel Suarez, Noel Azores, Jony Raco, and John Paul Bernardino.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Duterte to Filipinos on Easter: Unite for the country
President Rodrigo Duterte expressed hope that the country would unite to build the nation, particularly with the coming elections. “I trust that this season of Easter will be a blessed time for us to rekindle our shared commitment in nation-building, especially in the upcoming midterm elections,” Duterte said in his Easter message.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Trust issues prevalent among past admin’s top execs: Palace
Malacañang said “incompetence and trust issues” were prevalent among the top officials of the previous administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. This after Senator Francis Pangilinan slammed President Rodrigo R. Duterte for accusing opposition senatorial candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II of "wasting" the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who died in the 2015 Mamasapano clash and tagged this as a “diversionary tactic.”
Philippine News Agency

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Robredo on Easter Sunday: Defend freedom, democracy
Defend your freedom amid threats to democracy. This was the call of Vice President Leni Robredo to the public as the country celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Robredo ‘inspired’ by entertainers who speak up on issues
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday lauded entertainers for speaking up on national issues, such as the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ELECTION RELATED

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Do not use gov’t programs, activities in election campaign — DILG
Do not use government programs as election propaganda, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local and national candidates.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Ensure teachers’ honoraria, Garchalian tells Comelec
Following the signing of the 2019 national budget, Senator Win Gatchalian called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to coordinate with the Department of Education regarding the honoraria of teachers who would serve in the May elections.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Desperate black propaganda
THE road to perdition for the gasping Liberal Party is as slippery as the fate of its senatorial candidates in the coming mid-term elections on May 13. It’s political banner “Otso Diretso” had disintegrated. By itself, the party is like a powder keg out to implode. It is a mixture of leftists and rightists that offer no viable alternative but to restore the inept and corrupt regime of the two chapters of Aquino government. 
Philippine News Agency

Who not to vote for
In two weeks, the Philippine electorate will cast its vote for 12 senators, the entire cast of the House of Representatives as well as all provincial, city and municipal officials. For those unhappy with the status quo, this is your chance to elect better leaders.
Business World Online

Oppositions

Administration

Sara Duterte thinks of leaving Hugpong ng Pagbabago to head Davao City local party
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is considering leaving Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), the Davao regional political party she founded, after the 2019 elections. One reason for her possible exit is her desire to head the Davao City local party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL), currently led by her older brother Paolo Duterte.
Rappler

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

Zambo del Sur leaders question raid of masked cops
At least two leaders of Zamboanga del Sur questioned the legality of a dawn raid of masked policemen that resulted in the killing of three people on April 15.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DISASTER

MINDANAO

Zambo sardine canners piling up losses
The ongoing power supply problem in the country’s sardine capital continues to take its toll on the production of one of the staple food of every ordinary Filipino household. Unscheduled brownouts running up to three hours each time has cut down production of sardines by as much as 30 percent, according to industry sources.
Philippine News Agency

Crime solution efficiency at 89% in Caraga, 85% in Region 11 in Q1 2019 — PNP
Police regional offices in Region 13, Region 11, and Region 1 have the highest crime solution efficiency (CSE) rate during the first quarter of 2019, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Analysts: Dynasts to complicate federalism drive
THE switch to a federal system is still possible but dynasts will resist the inclusion of an anti-dynasty provision in the federal constitution, according to analysts. “Political clans will most likely reject very specific provisions that will negatively affect their own power and succession plans,” Natividad Cristina J. Gruet of the University of Asia and the Pacific-School of Law and Governance said in a phone message on Saturday when sought for comment.
Business World Online

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

PH to be ‘upper-middle-income’ nation this year
The Philippines is set to become an ‘upper-middle-income’ economy this year, thanks to the assistance of multilateral lenders such as the World Bank, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.
Manila Standard

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Philippines-South Korea to finish free trade deal by November
The Philippines and South Korea want to finish a free trade deal by November, a move that will make it easier for local bananas, among other goods, to enter the Korean market, top officials said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Sabah consulate proposal treason – Locsin
A proposal to open a consulate in Kota Kinabalu is “treason” as it will effectively recognize Malaysian sovereignty over Sabah, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday.
Philippine Star

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West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Dole checking Chinese shops on Boracay
Chinese investors are welcome to put up businesses on Boracay Island, but the government will be keeping an eye on them to ensure they follow the law on whom to employ, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

Dry run of EDSA provincial bus ban starts Monday
Provincial buses will be banned from loading and unloading passengers on EDSA starting April 22, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Sunday. The traffic scheme is part of the dry run for a provincial bus ban, in which authorities hope to close all provincial bus terminals in EDSA by June, said MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago.
ABS-CBN News

Taxicab firm banned from airport
A taxi company has been banned from all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after one of its drivers was accused of robbing his passenger, a visiting overseas Filipino worker, on Holy Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DA to expand sorghum planting to boost feeds
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) hopes to expand land planted to sorghum to 200,000 hectares by early 2020, as it views the grain to be highly suited to Philippine conditions.
Business World Online

Sugar execs accuse traders of price manipulation
Two officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) suspect wholesalers and retailers are manipulating the retail prices of sugar. SRA board members Dino Yulo and Roland Beltran said they came up with the conclusion following consultation with their constituencies over the long weekend.
Philippine Star

EDUCATION

ENERGY

EDC allots P7 B capex for 2019
Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has allocated over P7 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year to improve the reliability of its geothermal facilities. The company’s 2019 capex amounts to approximately P7.45 billion, based on a regulatory filing.
Philippine Star

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Review flights as gov't regulates Boracay tourists, airlines told
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) reminded all airlines operating in Kalibo and Caticlan airports to review their schedules in relation to the carrying capacity of Boracay Island.
Rappler

Phase 2 of Boracay road rehabilitation underway
Tourists, residents, and commuters have to bear the temporary inconvenience caused by road construction in Boracay Island as Phase 2 of the rehabilitation being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) is finally underway.
Rappler

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

DENR removes hostel's illegal drain pipe along El Nido beach
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) removed a hostel's illegal drainage pipe that was installed along the beach at Barangay Corong-Corong in El Nido, Palawan.
Rappler

Nestlé Philippines targets to use 100% recyclable packaging by 2025
WHILE it is working towards making the packaging of its products 100% recyclable in six years, Nestlé Philippines needs support from the government and other stakeholders on recycling efforts.
Business World Online

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Social media top info source of millennials - survey
Social media emerged as the top source of news and information for "millennials" or those aged between 23 and 38 in a survey by a political consulting firm.  Out of 1,200 millennials polled by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. from March 7 to 16, 51.7 percent "constantly check" Facebook throughout the day, while 9.8 percent do so for Twitter, and 14.33 percent for other social media sites. 
ABS-CBN News

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR