PH needs more Pinoys to expose CPP-NPA deception: AFP
The country needs more people like Angela O. Aguilar who will surface to expose truth about the so-called progressive groups with links to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) terrorist movement.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Standard

Netizens back bid to cancel Comelec reg’n of Bayan Muna, others
Netizens expressed support to the petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cancel the registration of party-list groups identified with the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
Philippine News Agency

------------------------------------

Briones denies Duterte ordered bombing of Lumad schools
Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Sunday, April 28, rejected statements by activist groups that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the bombing of schools said to be identified with the communist movement. Speaking at the opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2019 at the University of the Philippines Sports Complex in Tugbok district here, Briones said no school had been hit by a bomb upon Duterte's order.
Rappler

-----------------------------------

On the Treason of Duterte and Esperon    
China should be sued before the appropriate courts for the violation of sovereign rights of the Filipino people in the West Philippine Sea and demand its withdrawal and payment for the destruction of the marine environment and resources and rent for the duration of its occupation of Panatag Shoal and the artificial islands it has built and militarized. 
NDFP

“Oust Duterte!” is a widespread clamor of the Filipino people
The demand to oust Duterte from power is not a “plot” by a small group of conspirators, as recently claimed by Malacañang. It is, rather, a strong clamor and widespread movement across the country uniting millions of people who have had enough of Duterte’s fascist, corrupt and treasonous regime.
PRWC

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations   

Rebels' attack on police officer in Iloilo 'desperate move': Army
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the attack of around 15 rebel members against the Highway Police Assistance Desk (HIPAD) of the Alimodian Municipal Police Station in Bancal village, Alimodian town, Iloilo on Saturday was a "desperate move" of the part of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Philippine News Agency, The Daily Guardian, Panay News

MARAWI

Robredo: ‘What will happen to gov’t funds, donations for Marawi rehab?’
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said many residents of Marawi City “could not get on with their lives” as they await for the next move for the restoration of the war-torn city.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

DTI to perk up business activities in Marawi
To augment livelihood assistance for Marawi cooperatives and sustain the growth of businesses in the war-torn city, the Department of Trade and Industry  (DTI) is going to implement its Shared Service Facilities (SSF) project in the area.
Bangon Marawi

Marawi biz forum held
Hundreds of Marawi entrepreneurs gathered here together for the first Marawi Business Forum to help in accelerating the city’s economic recovery and in improving business access.
Bangon Marawi

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

At a Bombed Sri Lankan Shrine, Talk of Miracles Past and Present
The Shrine of St. Anthony, one of the most famous landmarks in Colombo, is revered as a place of miracles, and not just for Catholics. Thousands of Sri Lankans every day — among them Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims from far corners of the diverse nation — find their way to the shrine in a corner of the church, seeking relief from disease, financial troubles or even relationship stress.
The New York Times

Sri Lanka attacks: Christians pray at home one week after bombings
Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith held a televised mass, attended by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He called the attacks on churches and hotels "an insult to humanity" in the service, broadcast from a chapel in his residence. At least 250 people died.
BBC News, Aljazeera, France24

Sri Lanka bomb suspect's sister fears 18 relatives dead after attacks
The sister of the suspected ringleader of Sri Lanka's deadly Easter Sunday bombings has told CNN up to 18 of her family members are missing and feared dead since the attacks and subsequent raids. More than 250 people were killed and at least 500 injured in a series of coordinated suicide bombings at churches and hotels across the island April 21.
CNN

How 'laid back' Sri Lanka became a soft target for Islamist strike
A week ago, Sri Lankan tourist guide Ricky Costa was preparing for a typically easy Sunday ferrying backpackers between Colombo’s tea shops and beach bars in his canary-yellow rickshaw. Then the blasts began.
Reuters

A crucial lesson from the carnage in Sri Lanka
The carnage by Muslim terrorists who slaughtered hundreds of innocent Christians, including foreigners, in Sri Lanka possibly could have been avoided, given that multiple warnings of an impending attack were issued as early as two weeks before the attack and intensified as Easter approached. 
The Hill

Sri Lanka Attacks: Hometown of Accused Mastermind Was Fertile Ground for Extremism
When the Wahhabis came, with their austere ideology and abundant coffers, the town of Kattankudy yielded fertile ground. In this part of Sri Lanka, faith was often the sole sustaining force during the civil war that raged for nearly three decades. Wahhabism — a hard-line strain of Islam blamed for breeding militancy — proposed a direct path to God, albeit one that aimed to return the religion to the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
The New York Times

What Sri Lanka Means for the World: Theme of the Week
This week began with Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka that took hundreds of lives and injured hundreds more. Bloomberg Opinion writers explained how the attacks marked a troubling new era not just for the formerly war-torn country but for its neighbors – particularly India, which is itself in the middle of big and unnerving changes – and the rest of the world. 
Bloomberg

What Sri Lanka needs now
Since multiple blasts killed at least 253 people and injured hundreds more in Sri Lanka last Sunday, the government has declared a state of emergency, bringing back draconian anti-terrorism laws that will curtail civil liberties and increase militarization.
CNN

IS says its fighters behind police clashes in Sri Lanka
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement.
Philippine Daily Inquirer 

-----------------------------------

Destroyed on the battlefield, ISIS begins new chapter of terror
The 59-second video shows eight men clasping hands and pledging allegiance to the "Emir of the Believers" and the "Caliphate of the Muslims." They were about to launch a series of devastating attacks in Sri Lanka, an atrocity that took the lives of more than 250 people and simultaneously declared that ISIS is far from extinguished as a global threat.
CNN Philippines

Sentencing in terrorism case to focus on man’s mental state
An unusual and unusually long-running terrorism case in Chicago that featured talk of Edward Snowden and even lizard overlords enters a decisive stage on Monday with the start of a multiday sentencing hearing.
The Washington Post

MinDA chair denies proposing a consulate in Kota Kinabalu
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Abul Khayr Alonto denied on Saturday he proposed the establishment of a consular office in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia, to provide assistance to undocumented Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin, Mindanews

Troops sent to defuse tension in Sultan Kudarat barangay
Security forces have been dispatched to secure Barangay Molon here following reports that the village is being terrorized by a private armed group led by a former village chairman.
Manila Bulletin

PEACETALK: Winning the Peace in Mindanao
Welcome Address delivered by Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, President of the Ateneo de Davao University during the “Winning the Peace, Multistakeholders’ Dialogue on the Philippine Peace Process” at the Calungsod-San Vitores Hall,  Ateneo de Davao University on 24 April 2019.
Mindanews

BARMM

BTA sets up committees for priority legislation
THE BANGSAMORO Transition Authority (BTA) has created eight ad hoc committees that will prepare the documents for the administration of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) regional government.
Business World Online

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Once hostile Basilan highway now has street lights
There are now street lights along the fully-concreted highway connecting the cities of Lamitan and Isabela in this island province. Lamitan City is the new capital of Basilan province. The former trading, political and administrative capital of Basilan was Isabela City.
NDBC News

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Densing: Ateneo data on drug war deaths prove opposition’s claim as inaccurate
Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said on Sunday that the data released by the Ateneo School of Government about the drug war deaths prove that the opposition’s claim is “very inaccurate.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PNP calls Ateneo study on drug war deaths 'erroneous'
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is casting doubts on the accuracy of studies made by the Ateneo Policy Center, which alleges that over 7,000 people have died in government's campaign against illegal drugs. PNP spokesperson, Col. Bernard Banac said that while he respects the results of studies made by the academe, it is, however, inaccurate.
Philippine News Agency, Sunstar Manila, GMA News

-----------------------------------

San Francisco Board of Supervisors hits Duterte drug war, De Lima detention
The legislative body of San Francisco in the United States adopted a resolution condemning President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war and the detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima.
Rappler

San Francisco Supervisors’ reso aims to discredit Duterte admin—DILG exec
The resolution released by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors about the country’s drug war campaign aims to discredit the administration. These were the words of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III on Sunday as he slammed the resolution, saying it has “no basis.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

--------------------------------

Operations/ Incidents

Top drug suspect in Western Visayas killed in buy-bust
A top drug suspect in Western Visayas was killed in a buy-bust operation at Barangay 6 in Victorias City here on Sunday, April 28. High-value target Leoner Jalandoon of Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, allegedly resisted arrest during the buy-bust operation. He was killed after he reportedly fired at the police operatives.
Rappler, Philippine News Agency

3 DOTr employees test positive for drug use
Three employees of the Department of Transportation tested positive in a mandatory drug test conducted by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
GMA News

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

De Lima deplores killing of 48th human rights activist in Negros
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday raised anew the possibility of a death squad targeting human rights advocates at the helm of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Manila Bulletin

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law  

Duterte returns from fruitful trip to China
President Duterte returned to the Philippines after articulating key Philippine positions to advance and sustain global growth and development during his participation in the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte opens 62nd Palarong Pambansa in Davao, encourages youth ‘to be their best’
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomed 18,000 student-athletes to his hometown in the opening of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa on Sunday at the newly constructed Davao City-University of the Philippines Mindanao Sports Complex here.
The Manila Times

---------------------------------

Yellows’ vilest propaganda line: Inciting anti-Chinese racism
FROM odious blogger Jover Laurio and former Aquino 3rd spokesman Edwin Lacierda, to its stalwarts at the highest levels of government like Vice President Leni Robredo, Francis Pangilinan, and even Justice Antonio Carpio, the Yellows have been trying to rouse anti-Chinese xenophobia as their main propaganda thrust against President Duterte.
The Manila Times

ELECTION RELATED

---------------------------------

EDITORIAL - No end to election violence
In Negros Occidental, the provincial police command is seeking the relief of the entire police force of Moises Padilla town. The recommendation was made after the town’s vice mayor was ambushed last week together with her brother and a nephew who was seeking reelection as a councilor.
Philippine Star

‘Bring your Christian faith when you vote on May 13’, Villegas tells faithful
Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas has asked the faithful to bring their Christian faith when they vote in the May 13 midterm polls.
Manila Bulletin

TUCP asks candidates to bare their stand on contractualization
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged senatorial candidates to clarify their position on the issue of contractualization.
Manila Bulletin

Take good care of the elderly on election day
An appeal was made by Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Francisco Gamboa Datol Jr. for the youth and citizens’ groups to ensure the smooth voting of the senior citizens during the May 13 polls.
Manila Bulletin

Poll bets make rounds across PHL to woo voters
Senatorial candidates continued to go on the campaign trail across the country to win voters' confidence, with just two weeks remaining before the May 13 elections.
GMA News

Oppositions

Robredo, Otso Diretso bets campaign in Cebu City
The senatorial candidates of Otso Diretso, accompanied by Vice President Leni Robredo, visited Cebu on Sunday to court voters, encouraging them to select legislators who will represent the voice of the people.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler, The Manila Times

Robredo: Otso Diretso bets have big chance of winning
Barely two weeks before the May 13 elections, Vice President Leni Robredo voiced confidence that the Otso Diretso candidates would make it to the Senate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gutoc to DILG: ‘Give us that chance to be heard by barangays’
Opposition candidate Samira Gutoc slammed Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III for submitting a list of 52 barangay officials allegedly involved in partisan politics.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Afraid of Duterte, local leaders refuse to host Otso Diretso bets – Gutoc
Otso Diretso bet Samira Gutoc said President Rodrigo Duterte exercises an "overstretch" of power when local leaders refuse to be affiliated with the opposition slate. During the CNN Philippines senatorial forum on Saturday, April 27, this was the opposition senatorial candidate's response to a question on whether the Office of the President has "too much power."
Rappler

This Cebu barangay is ‘not afraid to support Otso Diretso’
A day after opposition senatorial bet Samira Gutoc lamented on national TV that there’s “overstretch” of presidential power when local leaders are afraid to host Otso Diretso campaign activities, the chairperson and a councilor of a barangay in a first-class municipality in Cebu province stood up for them.
Rappler

Administration

Bong Go gets love back in Quezon City, says candidates should keep campaign clean and fight fair
The people of Quezon City on Saturday gave love back to former Special Assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go when he returned to the city on a motorcade as part of his campaign.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Election-related Violence, Incidents and operations

DISASTER

Luzon quake infrastructure damage soars to P505 million – NDRRMC
The damage to infrastructure caused by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that affected parts of Luzon has reached P505.92 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Impact-proof desk developed for pre-school students
A group of researchers from the Philippine Normal University (PNU), De La Salle University, and Technological University of the Philippines developed a high impact-proof automated study desk for preschool children following recent consecutive earthquakes in Luzon and Visayas.
Manila Bulletin

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

BRP Andres Bonifacio in Busan for training exercise
A Philippine Navy (PN) official said that their participation in this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) Maritime Security Field Training Exercise 2019 in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK) demonstrates the Command’s commitment to work with the Philippine’s regional neighbors and partner navies in a multilateral environment.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Inflation seen falling within 2 to 4% target
Private economists expect inflation this year to fall within the two to four percent target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), according to a survey conducted by the central bank. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said inflation expectations of private sector economists are now lower and aligned to the inflation target.
Philippine Star

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

‘Build, Build, Build’ not an effective job-creating program — Ibon
President Rodrigo Duterte’s flagship infrastructure program “Build, Build, Build” which is also expected to create jobs for Filipinos is not an effective job-creating program, an economic research think tank said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

PHL, China ink MOU on anti-corruption cooperation
Anti-corruption agencies of the Philippines and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their commitment to cooperation during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing over the weekend.
GMA News

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PH pushes for more balance, equal treatment among countries in UNESCO
The Philippines has pushed for greater balance to reflect the diversity of opinion and equal treatment of all member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Manila Bulletin

------------------------

West Philippine Sea

Duterte raises concerns on WPS, calls for ‘restraint and caution’ to avoid escalation of tension
The Philippines and China should exercise “restraint and caution” to prevent an escalation of the tension in the South China Sea, President Duterte declared during his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Manila Bulletin

Locsin slams ‘idiotesses’: ‘Just leave clams issue alone’
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Sunday again called for the clams issue in the Scarborough Shoal to be left alone. Locsin made the statement following President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping where one of the issues tackled was the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH needs warships in WPS, says Pimentel
The Philippine Navy ought to have warships to guard the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against potential foreign threats.
Manila Bulletin

LABOR

Over 200k local, overseas employment up for grabs in nationwide job fair on Labor Day
Over 200,000 multi-skill job vacancies for local and overseas deployment will be available during the simultaneous nationwide job and business fair on Labor Day.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Parts of NAIA Expressway to be closed for maintenance
Portions of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway (NAIAX) will be closed to motorists at certain hours this week due to maintenance work, the Skyway O&M Corp. (SOMCO) announced Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

Lawmakers urged to pass higher sin tax on tobacco
Health advocates urged lawmakers anew to pass a measure that will raise tax rates on tobacco products.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Piñol reiterates attainment of rice self-sufficiency
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol reiterated the assurance that the country will meet its target for rice self-sufficiency.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

ENERGY

Gatchalian says gov’t should take over power production if private sector can’t
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said state energy regulators should be giving private power plants an ultimatum to ensure they would be able to commit to providing consumers sufficient electricity supply.
Manila Bulletin

Colmenares questions why consumers should pay higher power rates
Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares is questioning the impending power rate hike from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), saying consumers shouldn’t suffer from the shortcomings of power plant owners.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

DENR partners with Couples for Christ in planting 1 million trees
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is partnering with a Philippine-based Catholic movement to plant one million trees under the government’s Expanded National Greening Program (ENGP).
Manila Bulletin

Duterte threatens to have trash shipments dumped on Canadian beaches if not recalled
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday threatened to dump Canada's trash on Canadian beaches should the country fail by next week to recall containers of its trash that had been shipped to the Philippines.
GMA News

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR