CHR to probe slay of cop by suspected NPAs in Agusan del Norte
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it would investigate the killing of a police officer on May 22 by suspected members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NPA rebel surrenders in Zambo Sibugay
A young member of the New People’s Army (NPA) has surrendered to government authorities in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, military officials said Saturday. Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion commander, identified the NPA surrenderer only as Ka Jason, who turned himself in, along with an M14 rifle, in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

Six Reds yield to PNP in Batangas
Six suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to police in Batangas City, the Batangas provincial director said Saturday.
Manila Bulletin

275 Lumads, CAFGU members, former rebels now army privates in 4ID
After months of rigorous training, 275 Candidate Soldiers graduate from 4th Division Training School (DTS) during a Joint Closing Ceremony earlier this day May 23, 2019 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The 275 new Philippine Army Privates are composed of two Candidate Soldier Courses, CS Cl-571 and CSC Cl-572.
Kalinaw News, Sunstar Cagayan de Oro, Manila Bulletin

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Troops overrun NPA Camp in Mindoro
Troops of the 76th Infantry Battalion, 203rd Brigade and 405th Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion of Mimaropa overran another New People’s Army (NPA) temporary encampment after an armed encounter in Sitio Pusog, Barangay Ligaya, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro on Friday.
The Manila Times
 

OPAPP, AFP set rehab program for Maute surrenderees
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to rehabilitate former Maute militants. Col. Romeo Brawner, 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the partnership aims to achieve a holistic approach in the healing process of those who were duped to join the Maute group.
Philippine Star

MARAWI

Marawi Two Years On: Residents Remain Displaced on Technicalities
The rehabilitation of the Philippine city that jihadist militants tried to capture two years ago is on schedule and will be completed by December 2021, say government officials who downplayed criticism of delays and a slow bureaucratic process.
Yahoo News

ICRC: Thousands still homeless 2 years after Marawi armed conflict
Two years after the five-month-long armed conflict in Marawi City , over 100, 000 people continue to be without homes.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Business Mirror

12th CMOBn bids goodbye to batch 3 Hijab troopers
The third batch of Hijab Troopers returns to their respective units after nine months of providing excellent service to the communities all over Lanao del Sur, particularly the Maranaos who were affected by the Marawi Siege.
Kalinaw News

Latip-Yusoph: Remembering the past and facing the future
MAY 23, the second year of the commemoration of the Marawi Siege. The day that we all wanted to remember the past in order to move on and learn from the experience. That day was sad and overwhelming yet eye-opening. In many parts of Marawi, there are different activities launched and done in order to commemorate the plight of Marawi since May 23, 2017. 
Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

In Kabul, a moderate cleric was hailed for denouncing extremists. Now, he’s mourned after mosque bombing.
The killing of a prominent pro-government cleric in a mosque bombing has left the Afghan capital shaken and prompted U.N. officials Saturday to denounce a marked escalation of civilian casualties during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Washington Post

Despite Western-backed response, Sahel jihadists gaining ground
Jihadists are scoring gains in the Sahel, defying efforts by five countries in the fragile region to fight back with Western help against Islamist militancy.
Saudi Gazette

Terrorism 3.0: The rise of social media-based radicalisation
Sri Lanka has achieved phenomenal growth when considering the online connectivity of Lankans, thanks to a booming telecommunications sector that has brought cutting edge technology (eg 4G/5G) to the local market. As of January 2019, there were 7.13 million internet users in Sri Lanka, (internet penetration stands at 34%); of those, 5.7 million (almost 80%) connect to the internet using their smartphones. About 87% of Lankans who are online have social media accounts, with 85% of them having Facebook accounts.
The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

The politics of terrorism
Last weekend’s somewhat muted Vesak celebrations resulting from the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings and the prevailing uneasiness in the country prevented the 10th anniversary of the defeat of the three decade-long northern terrorism from being given the attention it deserved.
The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

The Encroaching Impact of Arms Trade on South Asia’s Geopolitics
In his famous farewell address to the American Public in 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had both defined and warned against the encroaching influence of what was then termed as the US’s ‘Military-Industrial Complex. 
Modern Diplomacy

Violent extremism: ActionAid Nigeria solicits Kogi traditional rulers’ involvement
ActionAid Nigeria on Saturday solicited the cooperation and involvement of traditional institutions in Kogi, in its campaign against violent extremism.
PM News Nigeria

Modernizing madrassa: Pakistan’s response to tackle extremism
As part of strategy to dismantle the extremist networks, Pakistan government has decided to introduce major reforms in the curriculum of over 30,000 Islamic schools or madrassas dotting the country’s landscape.
Anadolu Agency
 

BARMM

BARMM holds strategic communications workshop
The Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs of the Bangsamoro Autunomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OBYA-BARMM) and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in partnership with Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), MSU Marawi, conducted a workshop on the Strategic communications Capacity Building (SCCB) Project to provide BTA networks with a practical understanding of how to use messaging to amplify governance, peacebuilding ,security and preventing violent extremism initiatives.
Ranao Star

BARMM cop chief issues stern warning vs. 'kotong'
The head of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police has warned his men to refrain from doing illegal acts because the law will eventually catch up with them.
Philippine News Agency

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

2 aspiring soldiers killed in ambush in Maguindanao
Ambushers killed 2 men on Saturday in the town of Sultan Kudarat in the restive southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, police said. Police said the duo were returning home on a motorcycle when ambushed in the village of Rebuken.
Mindanao Examiner

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

New Basilan bishop urged: ‘Have courage, be strong'
Bishop Leo M. Dalmao, who was ordained the fourth bishop of the Prelature of Isabela in Basilan yesterday, received strong words of encouragement from Archbishop of Ozamiz Martin Jumoad, his predecessor.
NDBC News

Basilan farmers to benefit from 3 irrigation projects
Muslim and Christian farmers stand to benefit from three different irrigation facilities being constructed now by the provincial government in this island province. The Kapatagan and Sumagdang irrigation projects, each costing P15 million, are located in Barangays Kapatagan ang Sumagdang, both in Isabela City.
NDBC News, Philippine Star

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Is ‘Bikoy’ a decoy to divert public attention? Zarate thinks so 
Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” may be a decoy to divert the public’s attention from real issues, Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace to Trillanes: Brace for jail anew after ‘Bikoy’ exposé
Outgoing Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV should brace himself with the possibility of being jailed again as he was tagged in the latest alleged ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

De Lima: ‘Bikoy’ turnaround should not stop Senate probe
Detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima on Friday insisted on a Senate investigation of the original allegations by Peter Joemel Advincula that members of President Duterte’s family and their associates were involved in the illegal drug trade, despite his recantation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Bikoy’ scouts for lawyer after posting bail
Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy”, has been discharged from the Philippine National Police General Hospital and is now free to leave his detention cell after posting bail for his estafa cases.
Manila Bulletin

Once a liar, now he’s telling the truth?
Reader, only consider:  The “Bikoy” videos came out—five of them—starting on April 2 and ending April 22. Each video focused on a different personality; the first was Paolo Duterte, the second was Honeylet Avanceña, the third was Bong Go, the fourth was Manases Carpio and the fifth was Elizalde Co, all allegedly involved in the drug trade. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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PDEA: P1-B ‘shabu’ seized but trap vs trafficker fails
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday said it was still looking for the people behind the consignee of the P1 billion worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) hidden in a shipment of aluminum pallets and tapioca starch from Cambodia that was abandoned in March at the Bureau of Customs compound in Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Operations/ Incidents

Cops nab preacher for allegedly selling shabu in QC
A preacher of a religious group landed in jail for alleged illegal drug trafficking following a buy-bust operation in Cubao, Quezon City on Friday evening. Police  arrested Jimmy dela Torre, 49, along Oxford Street near the corner of Aurora Boulevard in Barangay E. Rodriguez at 11:30 p.m.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cavite ‘drug pusher’ killed in buy-bust
A suspected illegal drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation in Dasmariñas City in Cavite province Saturday. A report from Calabarzon police said the operation happened around 3 a.m. in Barangay H-2.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law   

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Bello: Philippines in 'brave new world' of politics under Duterte
Former Akbayan representative Walden Bello said the Philippines entered "this brave new world" of politics when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office. In a Rappler Talk interview, Bello said that the usual check list – name recall, money, and patron-client politics – no longer take center stage to determine electoral victory.
Rappler

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Sacked district collector, 2 ex-AFP officers appointed as BOC deputy chiefs
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a dismissed district collector of the Port of Manila and two retired military officers as deputy chiefs in the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

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OVP receives highest audit rating from COA for 2018 
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said on Saturday that it received the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA) for 2018. The OVP cited a COA report, which read that state auditors rendered an “unqualified opinion” on the fairness of the presentation of the office’s financial statement for the said fiscal year.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec gearing up for 2020 barangay polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now preparing for the barangay elections next year, only two weeks after the national and local polls.
Manila Bulletin

PPCRV parallel count surpasses 70 percent of total election returns
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has received over 70 percent of the election returns for their parallel count.
Manila Bulletin

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Makabayan bloc to ‘seriously push’ for hybrid-manual voting in next elections
Opposition party-list Bayan Muna on Saturday said the Makabayan bloc will “seriously push” for a hybrid manual-automated election system in the next polls.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Kabataan party-list looks deep into Cardema substitution before filing protest
The Kabataan party-list on Saturday said it will be definitely be protesting the substitution of former National Youth Commission (NYC) Ronald Cardema as first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Smartmatic decides PH elections
Yes, it’s true. Smartmatic decides and the Comelec just proclaims the winners of Philippine elections to make the results legitimate. We, taxpayers, pay good money not to be frustrated over those glitches that resulted in discrepancies and “frozen hours.”
The Manila Times

Why China was the big winner of the Philippines’ midterm elections
The early 20th century Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci observed that a “common error” among historians was their “inability to find the correct relation between what is organic and what is conjunctural”.
South China Morning Post

Protecting future political campaigns from hacking
In an effort to protect the integrity of democratic processes and institutions in the Philippines, Microsoft introduces a new service from their Defending Democracy Program.
The Manila Times

Otso Diretso ran 'defensive' campaign in 2019 – Walden Bello
The opposition senatorial slate Otso Diretso ran a "defensive" campaign in the recently-concluded 2019 midterm elections, observed former Akbayan representative Walden Bello.
Rappler

DISASTER

MINDANAO

Palace appoints MinDA OIC
Malacanang has appointed an officer-in-charge of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in place of Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto who died of heart complications on May 9.
Mindanews, Mindanao Daily Mirror, Manila Bulletin

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Colleges, universities can still include Filipino, Panitikan, the Constitution in curricula – SC
Colleges and universities can still include Filipino, Panitikan and the Constitution as subjects in their respective curricula.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

3 senators want to head education committee – Sotto
Three senators want to get elected as chair of the Senate Committee on Education in the 18th Congress, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gatchalian, Pimentel want Sotto to stay as Senate President
Senate President Vicente Sotto III should retain his post as the 18th Congress opens on July this year, two senators said on Saturday. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in a radio interview that there is no reason to replace Sotto for the Senate leadership, noting that Sotto showed a “decisive and strong” leadership.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bill favoring caddies, other service workers passed on 2nd reading in House
The House of Representatives has passed on second reading, a bill granting social security and welfare benefits to golf caddies and other related service workers. House Bill 9160, principally authored by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, mandates golf clubs to provide social security and welfare benefits to golf caddies and other related service workers through a shared contribution scheme.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

BIR to Pogo firms: Pay P4.4-B unpaid taxes of Chinese workers
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Friday ordered Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) to pay the P3.4 billion in income taxes that their foreign employees, mostly Chinese, owed the government.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PH Navy to get 25-30 more warships: Empedrad
The Philippine Navy (PN) is planning to acquire 25 to 30 warships of various types within the next five to 10 years as part of its efforts to augment its fleet.
Philippine News Agency, ABS-CBN News

DILG: Police training will be better, more rights compliant under PNP
Training of police recruits would be more professional and instill more respect for human rights under the jurisdiction of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Sandiganbayan acquits Zamboanga del Sur lawmaker of graft charge
Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles has been cleared by the Sandiganbayan Second Division of her graft charge in relation to the reportedly unlawful contact given to Baganian Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) back in 2005.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Boycott Canada? Palace stops government trips, deals
Following the recall of Philippine diplomats last week, President Duterte has banned government officials from traveling to Canada, citing as reason the delay in the return of 69 container vans of waste to Ottawa.
Philippine Star

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

‘911 sa Trabaho’ links TESDA graduates to jobs
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeking to expand opportunities for Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates was recently signed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and digital/online-based manpower service providers.
Manila Bulletin

DOLE asked to provide ‘highly-improved support’ for OFWs with HIV
Alarmed that a total of 91 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was newly diagnosed as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive in March, ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Saturday, to provide all-out support to the growing number of OFWs living with HIV.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

Grab deactivates 350,000 rider accounts to safeguard its drivers
In an effort to lessen the incident of missing drivers, Grab said on Saturday it has deactivated 350,000 passenger accounts. The ride-hailing service added that it may deactivate more accounts, totaling up to 25,000.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LTFRB urged: Open 15,000 slots for Grab units
Ridehailing platform Grab is asking the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to open the remaining 15,000 slots for the application of new Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) units.
Philippine Star

HEALTH 

DOH tests 300 vinegar brands for synthetic acetic acid
The Department on Health is testing 300 local and imported vinegar brands sold in the country to check if these condiments use banned ingredients, a health official said Saturday.
ABS-CBN News

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DA to probe 'quarantine violation' involving Raffy Tulfo, OFW
The Agriculture Secretary defended his own men in a recent altercation with a broadcast journalist over confiscated cans of luncheon meat from an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) coming from Hong Kong.
CNN Philippines, Philippine Star

More about irrigators’ associations and the Rice Tariffication Act
The May 12, 2019 column called attention to the very timely opportunity to reinforce a systemic, long-term institutional solution to the inefficiencies associated with the smallness and fragmentation of our farms which is the key constraint holding back Philippine agriculture.
Manila Bulletin

DA tightens security against illegal entry of fruits, plants
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will exert double efforts to tighten security over the entry of fresh and processed meat into the country as the deadly pork disease African Swine Fever (ASF) hit countries closer to the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

‘Brigada Eskwela’ ends; DepEd recognizes importance of community involvement
This year’s “Brigada Eskwela”- the weeklong schools maintenance activity led by the Department of Education (DepEd) – officially ends today, Saturday.
Manila Bulletin

41,930 examinees pass March 2019 teacher’s licensure exam — PRC
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 41,930 examinees passed the March 2019 Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). The PRC LET results released on Saturday showed that 19,695 out of 72,054 elementary teachers passed the board exam while 22,271 out of 85,823 secondary teachers passed the exam.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

ACT dares Senator-elect Go to deliver on his promise to raise teachers’ pay
Militant teacher’s group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has pressed Senator-elect Bong Go to be at the Senate’s forefront of ensuring decent pays and benefits for them.
Manila Bulletin

Number of dropouts coming back to school increasing – DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) said that the number of school dropouts who come back to school has been steadily increasing due to the implementation of the K to 12 Program.
Manila Bulletin

Applications for voucher program start May 26
The Department of Education (DepEd) officially announced that interested Senior High School (SHS) students who wish to avail of the Voucher Program for School Year (SY) 2019-2020 may submit their applications starting Sunday, May 26.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Bayan Muna solon calls bicam-approved Murang Kuryente Bill a ‘deceptive’ measure
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate expressed “grave apprehension” Saturday that the supposed Murang Kuryente Bill recently passed by the bicameral conference panel would not benefit the people, but the “power oligarchs and their minions.”
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

House OKs creation of task force on tourist protection, assistance
The House of Representatives has unanimously passed on third and final reading a bill seeking the creation of “Tourist Protection and Assistance Task Force”. House Bill 8981, the proposed “Tourist Protection and Assistance Act”, principally authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, got the nod of 158 House members who were present during the recent plenary voting.
Manila Bulletin

DOT lists 353 accommodation establishments in Boracay
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Saturday said there are now 353 accommodation establishments in Boracay Island that are allowed to operate, after they complied with the requirements set by the Boracay Interagency Task Force.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

DENR eyes total ban on waste imports
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently crafting a policy which would ban all waste imports amid the rise in arrivals through the country’s ports of misdeclared shipments carrying garbage.
Rappler

Solon calls on DENR, BOC to impose stricter regulations on importation of solid waste
Misamis Oriental Rep. Juliette T. Uy is calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Customs (BuCor) to come up with “new and strict regulations” on the importation of foreign solid waste.
Manila Bulletin

Corrupt BOC personnel to blame for entry of garbage into PH – Lacson
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday blamed “corrupt” officials in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for the entry of foreign garbage in the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

Australia to cooperate on probe on trash, says ambassador
The Australian government vowed to cooperate with any investigation made on the importation of the supposed trash from their country. “As I understand that there are tests being made and we welcome those tests. We look forward to the results and we will wait and do what we will have to do on the basis of those results,” said Ambassador Steven Robinson in a statement during a Media Briefing in Cebu City on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Australian, Filipino environmental groups question global waste trade
Environmental and cause-oriented groups in the Philippines and Australia have exposed and questioned the global waste trade of making developing nations as the garbage dumping sites of affluent nations.
Manila Bulletin

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Filipino youth march for Climate Change
Several Filipino youth organizations involved in environmental protection and preservation recently joined the Climate Youth Strike, a global initiative of youth groups from different countries including the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

NPC forms coalition to protect ‘digital Filipino’
Coming on the heels of a surge in citizen complaints of alleged privacy harassments from online lenders, more than 2,000 Data Protection Officers (DPO) from major government offices and leading businesses today joined the National Privacy Commission’s (NPC) call to form a united front to strengthen the protection of peoples’ personal data.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR