‘Reds recruit youth through social media’
New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas continue to recruit children, which is a gross violation of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s Convention on the Rights of Children, according to a military official.
Philippine Star

Army says Eastern Front rebels recruit minors aged 10 to 14
The Eastern Front of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) recruits members as young as 10 to 14 years old, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

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Ladlad's wife asks gov't: Let my husband undergo medical treatment
National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Vicente Ladlad's wife is appealing to the government to allow her detained husband to seek medical treatment at a hospital in Makati City.
GMA News

Rights advocates call for release of over 500 political prisoners
On the Global Day of Action to Release all Political Prisoners, human rights advocates on Wednesday gathered in front of Camp Crame in Quezon City to call for the release of more than 500 political prisoners.
GMA News

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Cordillera cops start counter-insurgency training
A total of 80 policemen in the Cordillera are undergoing training on internal security operations as part of the capacity building program to combat insurgency in the country.
Philippine News Agency

Region 6 forms livelihood cluster to boost EO 70 implementation
Western Visayas has organized its Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) on Monday.
Philippine News Agency

56th Infantry Battalion initiates community outreach program at Sitio Tibucag
More than 600 residents of Sitio Tibucag, Brgy Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, mostly indigents were the recipients of the Joint Community Outreach Program dubbed as “Pulong-pulong, Pagpakabana, Panaghiusa ug Pagtinabangay alang sa Sitio Tibucag”, which was initiated by the 56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion under the Leadership of LTC NORMAN E VALDEZ INF (GSC) PA, its Battalion Commander.
Kalinaw News

NPA couple who started as child soldiers yields in Bukidnon
A couple who joined the communist New People’s Army (NPA) as child soldiers surrendered in the Bukidnon town of Impasug-ong Wednesday, the military said. The Army's 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) said the couple, only identified as Koko and Kenny, joined the communist rebel movement when they were 17 and 15 years, respectively.
Philippine News Agency

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Deadly Sulu Army camp blasts: Who is Norman Lasuca?
Norman Lasuca was tagged as one of the two suspected suicide bombers in the twin explosions that left eight people dead at an Army camp in Indanan, Sulu last week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Abu Sayyaf behind Sulu suicide bombing attack —police
Security forces on Wednesday tagged the Abu Sayyaf as the perpetrators of the suicide bombing attack inside a military camp in Indanan, Sulu, last month where eight people were killed and over 20 others were wounded.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Suicide blast in Sulu 'locally initiated': police
A deadly blast in the southern Philippines last June, the first to involve a Filipino suicide bomber, was "locally initiated," contrary the claim of Islamic State jihadists, police said Wednesday.
ABS-CBN News

‘Dangerous times ahead’: PNP, AFP to ramp up efforts vs terrorism
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to bolster its efforts to combat terrorism after President Rodrigo Duterte warned of “dangerous times ahead” in the Philippines.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Albayalde: No confirmation on alleged suicide mission by Egyptian couple 
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said they have no confirmation on the presence of an Egyptian couple in Sulu who are allegedly planning to carry out a suicide bombing mission.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ravanera: Quest for peace thru cooperativism
VIOLENT extremism has gone to the horrible scenario where for the first time in history, a Filipino suicide bomber was in the limelight recently as this is the first of its kind in the Philippine history. Is this how grim the scenario has become, where one is willing to give up his life? For what cause? We all pray that this will not happen again and that this kind of violent extremism is a phenomenon that should not become ordinary. 
Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

MARAWI

DSWD: 1,600 families displaced by Marawi siege now in temporary shelters
Over 1,600 families displaced by the Marawi siege in 2017 are now housed in temporary shelters, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Terrorism ‘spreading and destabilizing’ entire regions, Guterres warns States, at key Kenya conference
“Trauma from terrorism” hurts families, communities and destabilizes entire regions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, as he expressed solidarity with victims of extremist attacks in Africa.
United Nations News

China rebuked at UN over Uighur detention: Reuters
More than 20 countries have called on China to halt its mass detention of ethnic minority Uighurs in the country's Xinjiang region in the first such joint move on the issue at the United Nations' Human Rights Council, according to diplomats and a letter seen by Reuters news agency.
Aljazeera

AU seeks to cement counter-terrorism cooperation with China
The African Union (AU) is seeking to cement counter-terrorism cooperation with China, an official said on Wednesday. Idriss Mounir Lallali, deputy director of African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism at AU, told Xinhua in Nairobi that the continent looks forward to cooperation with the Asian nation in this regard based on already robust ties.
Xinhua

Terrorism, radicalism are still serious challenges: President Jokowi
Terrorism and radicalism remain significant challenges for Indonesian National Police to face in order to secure and preserve Indonesia, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) noted.
Antara News

Indonesian counter-terror chief mulls repatriation of former Islamic State families
Indonesia’s National Agency for Combating Terrorism (BNPT) said on Tuesday (Jul 9) that it is ready to lead a team to repatriate families of former Islamic State (IS) members from Syria, once an official decision on the matter has been made.
Channel News Asia, The Straits Times

Experts root for education to shield African youth from radicalization
African governments should invest in basic education and vocational training for the youth to shield them from the allure of terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the continent, experts said on Wednesday.
Xinhua

Economics of terrorism in Lake Chad Basin
In the Lake Chad Basin region, which includes Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, economic viability and control is as important to extremist groups’ resilience as military tactics or ideology. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram faction, is generating income from remote communities in exchange for a range of services to secure its position.
Institute for Security Studies

Sri Lankan Muslims targeted after Easter attack
Sri Lanka's minority Muslim community is being targeted and persecuted in the aftermath of the Easter bombings, carried out by a local ISIS terrorist cell, in Colombo. Scores are being picked up by Sri Lanka's investigating agencies and are also being targeted by hardline Sinhala Buddhists who are a majority.
MENAFN

From Terror to Tranquility: The Quest for a Bali Peace Park in Indonesia
For almost 17 years, the survivors of the Bali bombings that hit Indonesia in 2002 – which heralded the rise of terrorism in a post September-11 environment in Southeast Asia – have had it tough. Carrying injuries that require constant medical care, they are often stigmatized even today. 
The Diplomat

Negosyo for peace
President Duterte has been serving our country for half of his term now and we have seen many improvements, most especially in economy, infrastructure development, and tourism, among others.
Philippine Star

BARMM

Moros vow to stay vigilant
Bangsamoro Region Interim Chief Minister Hadji Murad Ebrahim has reiterated an earlier commitment he made to help the government in its fight terrorism, corruption and the proliferation of dangerous drugs.
Manila Standard, NDBC News

BARMM to take control of offices in Cotabato LGUs
The Department of the Interior and Local Government will work on the smooth transfer of the supervision of its local offices in the newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Manila Standard, NDBC News

Lidasan: Governing a wholehearted Bangsamoro
QUESTIONS of moral governance and identity are issues that the Bangsamoro government still struggles with. In my previous article, I mentioned the definition of Bangsamoro based on how Republic Act (RA) 11054 defines it.
Sunstar Davao

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

2 killed, 4 hurt in separate Cotabato City shootings
Two persons died while four others were wounded in two separate shooting incidents here Wednesday. Colonel Portia Manalad, the city police director, said security measures have been heightened following the twin shooting incidents that transpired amid the strategic deployment of policemen in crime-prone areas of the city.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

QC court denies Ampatuan motion to set additional hearing dates
A Quezon City court has dismissed the appeal of Maguindanao massacre case principal accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. for the setting of additional hearing dates for the presentation of his sur-rebuttal witnesses in connection with the 58 counts of murder cases filed against him.
Manila Bulletin

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

2 classrooms set ablaze in Basilan
Unidentified men burned down two classrooms of the Amaluy Elementary School in Ungkaya Pukan in Basilan, police said Wednesday. The classrooms were used by grades 5 and 6 students, said Captain Said Omar Ismael.
ABS-CBN News

Abu Sayyaf supporters surrender, turn over firearms
Three supporters of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered in Basilan on Wednesday morning, the military said in a statement.
GMA News

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Amnesty International stubborn, hopeless - Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday called Amnesty International "stubborn" and "hopeless" after the London-based human rights group denied it was "politicizing" the government's drug war, as the Palace earlier alleged.
ABS-CBN News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Human rights groups confident UN council will act on PH killings
Human rights groups are confident the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) would act on the rising number of alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
ABS-CBN News

PNP chief clarifies deaths in drug war shootouts
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde yesterday clarified that the number of deaths in alleged shootouts in anti-drug operations does not represent the entire picture of the government’s war on illegal drugs.
Philippine Star

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Customs exec says PDEA fabricated entrapment story about P1-B ‘tapioca shabu’
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) executive said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) lied when it said that the auction of a shipment of tapioca starch that had contained P1 billion worth of shabu was a part of an entrapment operation.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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100 new K9s, handlers beefing up PDEA operations
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)’s K9 unit welcomed 100 new narcotic detection dogs and their handlers as the agency intensifies its anti-illegal drug operations.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

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Killing drug suspects is never the solution – Malolos diocese exec
Killing drug suspects is never the solution to Bulacan’s drug problem. An official of the Diocese of Malolos issued this remark Wednesday after international human rights group Amnesty International (AI) tagged the province of Bulacan as the Philippine’s “bloodiest killing field.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Operations/ Incidents

P2.4-M worth of marijuana bricks seized in Cavite, 4 arrested
Four suspected drug traffickers were arrested while some P2.4 million worth of marijuana bricks were seized by police and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a bust in Cavite on Tuesday afternoon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Drug suspect slain, cop hurt in Misamis Oriental raid
A drug suspect was killed while a policeman was wounded in a dawn raid in Purok Paradise 2, Barangay Cabalantian here Wednesday, July 10.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cops nab 2 'pushers', seize P170-K shabu in Naga City
Police operatives seized on Tuesday afternoon PHP170,000 worth of suspected shabu from two alleged drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in Naga City.
Philippine News Agency

PDEA nabs 2, seizes P340-K shabu in Pangasinan
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) provincial office arrested two high-value targets (HVTs) and seized PHP340,000 worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation here Tuesday. 
Philippine News Agency

4 drug personalities nabbed in Koronadal
Police arrested four "newly-identified" drug personalities in separate entrapment operations on Tuesday evening and Wednesday dawn in Koronadal City.
Philippine News Agency

2 target-listed pushers nabbed in GenSan drug bust
Anti-drug operatives arrested two target-listed pushers, who were allegedly part of a local drug network, in a buy-bust operation in a subdivision here on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Suspected drug personality shot dead in Guihulngan City
A suspected drug personality who was released from detention for a previous drug charge last year was shot dead Wednesday morning in Sitio Mato-og, Barangay Basak in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

Orphan goes from sniffing ‘Rugby’ glue to playing for Philippines
Long before Lito Ramirez was one of the Philippines’ first homegrown rugby stars he was a six-year-old orphan addicted to sniffing glue, who survived on trash and begging.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

2 gunrunning suspects arrested in Cotabato City
Authorities here nabbed Tuesday morning two suspected gunrunners during an entrapment operation in Purok Pagalungan, Barangay Bagua 1. Capt. Alexon Bora, Police Station 4 commander, identified the arrested suspects as Salik Mangkay and Ali Bangrad, both local residents.
Philippine News Agency

Father, son nabbed for illegal possession of firearms in Zambales
Police arrested a man and his son for illegal possession of firearms here on Wednesday. Armed with a warrant, police searched the house of Richard Santos and his son Richie in Barangay La Paz at 5:45 a.m.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

BOC seizes P1.2M worth of smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Joint Task Force Zamboanga on Wednesday seized P1.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes inside three passenger vessels at the Zamboanga Port.
GMA News

BOC-Zamboanga donates close to 7K sacks of rice to DSWD
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has donated 6,921 sacks of glutinous rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in this southern port city. Segundo Sigmunfreud Barte, BOC-Zamboanga District collector, said the 6,921 sacks or 173 metric tons of rice were turned over Wednesday to the DWSD regional office.
Philippine News Agency

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Human trafficking victims rescued in Nueva Ecija
Four women, including two minors, were saved by authorities from a bar which is allegedly being used as a front for prostitution in Barangay Sampaloc here on Tuesday, police said.
Philippine News Agency

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

No one hurt as grenade explodes in Tagum residential area
A hand grenade exploded inside a residential compound owned by Fredelyn Aregoso Cuba in Barangay Visayan Village, Tagum City on Tuesday evening. Captain Anjanett Tirador, Tagum City Police Office spokesperson, said nobody was inside the house at the time of the incident.
Philippine News Agency
 

PHL faces another international probe–this time on labor-related slays
THE country may soon be the subject of another international probe, this time on the alleged high number of local labor-related killings in the country. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has asked the government to accept its high-level mission later this year regarding the said matter.
Business Mirror

HRW hits Locsin over remark vs. Iceland reso
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) slammed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin over a remark he made about the draft resolution filed by Iceland which called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to look into the human rights situation in the Philippines, including  killings under the Duterte administration's anti-illegal drug campaign.
GMA News

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#RespetoNaman campaign makes its way around the Philippines
With the aim to eliminate gender-based violence in the Philippines, the #RespetoNaman Campaign has been making its way around the country since its launch in November 2018. Inspired by the global #MeToo, and #TimesUp Movement, #RespetoNaman focuses on bringing the issue of rape and sexual harassment into the mainstream in the Philippines and empowering women to rise up and speak up.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Beauty queen Saeed: Let’s discuss gender-based violence
To address and shed light on issues such as gender-based violence in the Philippines, we should first start talking about it. This was what newly crowned Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2019 Resham Saeed said on how to go about dealing with such issues.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

WATCH: Global Conference for Media Freedom 2019
The UK and Canadian governments are co-hosting the Global Conference for Media Freedom on July 10-11. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office mounts this event as a major milestone in its campaign to protect journalists doing their job, and to promote the benefits of a free media worldwide.
Rappler

Martial Law 

KMU calls on Mayor Sara to lobby for the end of martial law in Mindanao
City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio should urge her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, to lift the martial law in the entire Mindanao, instead of only calling to exempt the City from its declaration, said militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
Davao Today

Palace: Judge Duterte not by his words, but by his deeds
President Rodrigo Duterte should be judged “not by his words but by his deeds.” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said this Wednesday after Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Harald Fries expressed distaste over Duterte’s sexist jokes about women and the sensitive issue of rape.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Unprecedented
The latest SWS survey shows President Rodrigo Duterte garnering an 80% satisfaction rating at the midpoint of his term. That is unprecedented.  Those who wish the President’s political base would somehow evaporate with constant drumming about surrendering sovereignty or waging a bloody war on drugs are spitting against the wind. They are wishing against the evidence.
Philippine Star

Panelo defends Duterte amid Swedish envoy's criticism of rape jokes
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial remarks on women, saying he should be judged based on his deeds and not by his words and jokes.
ABS-CBN News

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Military vows to remain loyal to Constitution amid Palace's coup talk
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday vowed to remain loyal to the State after Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte has received information about a possible coup against him.
GMA News

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Arroyo hails Duterte as ‘most loved by his people, among all leaders in the world today’
Former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has so much to thank President Rodrigo Duterte for, but it was his successful leadership of the nation that left her in “awe and admiration” of the current chief executive.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace sees ‘exciting times’ with reported new US ambassador to PH
Malacañang is looking forward to “exciting times” amid reports of the imminent appointment of a new female United States Ambassador to the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

US Embassy denies Mina Chang appointment as new US envoy to PH
The United States Embassy in Manila has denied reports that Mina Chang, US State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, will be the next US Ambassador to the Philippines. In a message, the US Embassy said: “We’ve seen this claim. It is not true.”
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Rappler, CNN Philippines

Mina Chang to serve as USAID exec, not envoy to PH: Embassy
The United States Embassy in Manila on Wednesday said Mina Chang will serve as an executive of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), dismissing reports she will replace current Ambassador Sung Kim.
Philippine News Agency

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Mayor Sara denies ‘text brigade’ to defy PRRD
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Wednesday denied sending a text message to congressmen telling them not to be swayed by President Duetrte’s pronouncements and instead vote for the House speaker they really want.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Rappler

Sara dares solon to reveal source of alleged anti-Cayetano text
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio dared Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor to identify the source of a supposed text message from her circulating among lawmakers asking them to reject Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as the next House speaker.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Mindanews

Defensor apologizes to Sara for ‘text’ urging rejection of Cayetano
Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor has apologized to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for showing a text message supposedly stating that she was urging House members to reject President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement on the speakership.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

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Hontiveros’ Sona wish list: End to EJKs, De Lima’s freedom
An end to alleged extrajudicial killings or EJKs, and the release of detained Senator Leila de Lima were just among the items in the wishlist of a legislator for this year’s State Of the Nation Address (Sona). 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo gives emphasis on collaboration as key element in poverty reduction
Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Wednesday underscored convergence partnership is vital in the county’s fight against poverty. Robredo said that collaboration of efforts of local communities, government agencies, and both public and private sectors will maximize the impact of poverty reduction program.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec won’t allow proxy registration
Those planning to register as voters should do it personally as the Commission on Elections said “proxies” are not allowed.
Manila Bulletin

11 election cases filed before HRET
At least 11 cases of election protests and quo warranto petitions have been filed before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), it was disclosed on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Political will to implement laws works better than Charter change – Recto
The government does not need to amend the 1987 Constitution to “change” the country, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto maintained Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

DFA chief wants Constitution changed to allow war as instrument of nat'l policy
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday said the Constitution needs to be amended to remove the "traitorous" provision that "renounces war as an instrument of national policy."
CNN Philippines

Senate minority bloc united against Cha-cha – Hontiveros
The Senate minority bloc remains opposed to the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha) and federalism, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

JUDICIARY

Lawyer in fishers’ writ of kalikasan case: Gov’t sneaked behind our backs
A human rights lawyer representing fisherfolks in a case asking the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the government to protect the marine resources in the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday said government lawyers may have sneaked behind their backs to convince their clients to deny being part of the case.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Fishermen filed West PHL Sea kalikasan suit ‘with full knowledge, consent’ —lawyer
The Filipino fishermen who filed an environmental case covering the West Philippine Sea before the Supreme Court did so “with full knowledge and consent,” contrary to the government’s claim that many of them disowned the suit, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said on Wednesday.
GMA News

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SC insists independence after Arroyo says Duterte helped acquit her
The Supreme Court (SC) insisted its independence after former House speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in a speech Tuesday night that President Rodrigo Duterte "provided the atmosphere" that led to her acquittal in July 2016, or the first month of the Duterte presidency.
Rappler

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Marcos, Go file bills seeking postponement of 2020 brgy, SK elections
Two neophyte senators formally sought Wednesday the postponement of the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections that carries a hefty cost of P3 billion.
Manila Bulletin

Go files bill that will allow fire victims to rebuild their homes
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Wednesday that those affected by recent fires could use the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Act of 2019, which he is proposing, to rebuild their homes.
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros refiles divorce bill
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday she has refiled the bill seeking to institute absolute divorce in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Bills seeking to push indie films, promote film tourism filed in Senate
Two bills seeking to push the development of Filipino independent films and promote film tourism have been filed by Senator Grace Poe. Under the proposed "Philippine Independent Film Incentives Act of 2019,” incentives of up to P5 million will be given to production outfits that produce award-winning films.
GMA News

Senate bill seeks emergency powers for President to address traffic crisis
A bill granting the President emergency powers for two years to address the traffic crisis in the country has been filed at the Senate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Zarate: Talk about House minority leadership is still premature
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Wednesday said talking about House minority leadership this time is still premature, because the race for the Speaker post despite President Rodrigo Duterte's endorsement, is far from over.
GMA News

Recto raps gov’t agencies for failing to hire enough personnel
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday scored government agencies over their lack of personnel despite the additional resources already allotted by Congress.
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros on Dela Rosa’s ‘epal’ remark: ‘Sino ba ang nagdrama?’
“Sino ba ang nagdrama?” This was opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ quick reply during the regular Kapihan sa Senado on Wednesday when asked about neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s “epal” remark.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Gordon hits congressmen for seeking Duterte intervention on speakership
Sen. Richard Gordon on Wednesday chided House members who called on President Rodrigo Duterte to endorse his bet for speaker, saying this compromised the independence of the lower chamber.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

Scholarship grants for PWDs and their children proposed
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya is proposing to grant scholarships to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their children.
Manila Bulletin

House bill seeks 30K salary hike for public school teachers
Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo has filed a bill seeking to raise the basic salary of all public elementary and high school teachers by P30,000 regardless of the length of service.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Duterte prevented bloody speakership dispute – Salceda
President Rodrigo Duterte’s intervention in the race for House speaker prevented a possible “bloody floor fight” when the 18th Congress opens later this month, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Castro, Ungab may land key House positions – Salceda
House Majority Leader and Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro may seek the minority leadership in the 18th Congress, while Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab may get the chairmanship of the powerful appropriations committee, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda hinted on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Romualdez hails Arroyo as an “economic and political genius”
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez described on Wednesday former president and speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as an “economic and political genius,” citing her valuable contributions to the country’s financial and political landscape.
Manila Bulletin

Castro seeking guidance on minority leadership bid
Former House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro on Wednesday said he would “seriously study” his possible minority leadership bid in the 18th Congress by seeking guidance from his allies and senior colleagues in the House.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG tells governors to step up fight vs illegal drugs, insurgency, corruption
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday challenged the country’s 81 first time and re-elected provincial governors to step up the fight against illegal drugs, insurgency, and corruption.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

‘PHL economy’s engine can’t hack a 7-8% growth, more investments needed’
THE Philippine economy is not built to post a growth of 7 or 8 percent, Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (Acerd) Director Alvin P. Ang said in a forum on Wednesday, even as a ranking government official admitted that growth is not the end-goal of the Duterte administration, but reducing poverty and creating opportunity.
Business Mirror

Peso retreats ahead of Fed chief Powell’s speech
The Philippine peso retreated against the US dollar on Wednesday as investors based their positions ahead of the speech of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
GMA News

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

PNP sets ‘no human contact’ policy in recruitment of cops
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started a “no human contact” policy in the recruitment of new policemen to avoid the influence of the “padrino” system.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte orders ‘freezing’ of Customs execs, workers
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the “freezing” of several high-ranking officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over allegations of corruption.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PHL-Canada connections too good to go to waste
FOR a fleeting moment, Canada and the Philippines had the diplomatic equivalent of a minor “heart seizure” over the row on the waste materials that emanated from the North American country and somehow found their way into our shores.
Business Mirror

West Philippine Sea

Gordon tells Duterte gov’t to be prepared ‘for all possibilities’ over West PH Sea dispute
Senator Richard J. Gordon advised on Wednesday the Duterte administration to be prepared for all possibilities that might develop over the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) that has become ‘’an area of contention.’’
Manila Bulletin

LABOR

‘Ending the evils of endo is within reach’ — Villanueva
Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday said the growing support of Cabinet members to the Security of Tenure bill shows the government’s will to end illegal labor contractualization in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

MRT-3 new rails arrive in Manila
The brand new rails for the Metro Manila Rail Transit System Line 3 arrived Tuesday in the Port of Manila. The 4,053 Japanese-made rail pieces, each measuring 8 meters long, arrived in Harbour Centre Port Terminal in Manila months earlier from its original date of arrival.
Manila Bulletin

Bus passengers ‘curse’ MMDA for issuing traffic ticket amid rush hour in QC
Tempers flared Wednesday after passengers of a bus that was flagged down in Quezon City for a traffic violation had a heated argument with traffic enforcers to the extent of allegedly cursing Edsa traffic head Bong Nebrija.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

DSWD: Over 3 million Filipino kids nourished by gov’t feeding programs
At least 3.9 million Filipino children have received nourishment from the government’s feeding program since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PhilHealth chief ready to face Senate probe on alleged fraudulent schemes in the agency
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and CEO Ricardo Morales Wednesday said he was ready to face a Senate investigation on the alleged fraudulent schemes within the agency.
Manila Bulletin

Ombudsman asked to subpoena Duque, brother for PhilHealth rental mess
Petitioners who filed graft and plunder complaints against Health Secretary Francisco Duque have also asked the Ombudsman to issue a subpoena for him and his brother for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) rental issue.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Fund for rice farmers to get P5 billion from DBM this year
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday that it will soon release P5 billion for a fund that seeks to improve the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers.
Business Mirror

EDUCATION

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

CEZA, Pag-IBIG to build 300 houses for ecozone workers
The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Pag-IBIG Fund will build 300 housing units for the employees of the ecozone.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TOURISM

DOT confident it will surpass target of 8.2M foreign tourist arrivals in 2019
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday expressed optimism that it can exceed the target of 8.2 million international visitors this year, citing the spike in tourist arrivals in the first five months of 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOT says Mindanao still safe tourist destination
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that Mindanao remains a “dangerous place,” the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday said parts of the region are not “troubled” and in fact “full of attractions and destinations.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

DOT hails Isko Moreno’s tourism promotion initiative
The Department of Tourism (DOT) commended Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s initiatives to promote tourism in the nation’s capital.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

DOT eyes Surigao as hub for water sports, sustainable tourism
This capital city of Surigao del Norte province, which has been hosting the International Dragon Boat Festival since last year, is being positioned to become a center for water sports as the Department of Tourism (DOT) and local officials push sustainable tourism in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR