Duterte’s use of anti-communism and anti-terrorism for the fascist suppression of the Filipino people   
A close reading of Executive Order No. 70, signed by Duterte on December 4, 2018 in order to create the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict, shows that it is a major step of his tyrannical rule to realize the imposition of a full-blown fascist dictatorship on the Filipino people and to reassure the US that he is still its puppet even if he makes a fast buck on the side from shady deals with China and the Chinese criminal triads.
NDFP

Joma claims US can stage a coup against ‘traitor, coward’ Duterte
Communist Party of the Philippines founder and National Democratic Front of the Philippines Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria "Joma" Sison said on Saturday that the US need not fire the "first shot" against China, as President Rodrigo Duterte had taunted them to do, given that they could just as easily orchestrate a coup against the Philippine president.
GMA News, NDFP

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

 Killing of transport leader, arrest of 9 others on Negros Island slammed
Church leaders and human rights groups have decried the killing of a transport leader and the arrest of a pastor and nine other members of church and farmers groups on Negros Island since last week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

Soldiers, LGUs aid 400 displaced Mangyan families
Around 400 Mangyan families displaced by the military’s two-day offensive against the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) are now given relief assistance in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Isabela PENRO employee killed
A member of the Provincial Environment Regional Office (PENRO)-Isabela Environment Protection Task Force was found dead inside the task force office in Ilagan City, Isabela Friday.
Manila Bulletin

NPA owns killing of Isabela environment checkpoint exec
The New People’s Army attacked and killed a member of Task Force: Kalikasan who was manning an anti-illegal logging checkpoint on Friday (July 5) at Sitio (subvillage) Laguis in Barangay Sindon Bayabo here.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Davao City eyes transparent garbage bins to avoid terror attack
Task Force Davao wants to replace the usual green and black garbage bins in the city with transparent ones as it prepares for the 34th Kadawayan harvest festival. The transparent bins – where suspicious items will supposedly be spotted more easily – are among the security measures, especially after recent bombing in Sulu that killed 8 people and wounded 22 others, said Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Consolito Yecla.
Rappler

MARAWI

AFP says Marawi aid audit report 'not quite accurate'
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied any irregularity in its handling of P274 million in donations to soldiers wounded or killed in the 2017 siege of Marawi City, saying the Commission on Audit (COA) report that questioned its disbursements was “not quite accurate.”
Rappler

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Global terrorism is in decline. For victims, it doesn't feel like it
Moments after Christine Delcros was hit by a van that mounted a sidewalk during the London Bridge terror attack, she thought to herself: "That's how one dies." Delcros, 46, was seriously injured in the 2017 vehicle assault that, along with a stabbing rampage, killed eight people. Her fiance wasn't as lucky. Xavier Thomas' body was later found in the River Thames, where it was knocked by the terrorists' speeding van. 
USA Today

U.S. envoy says latest peace talks with Taliban 'most productive' so far
U.S. and Taliban officials will reconvene on Tuesday to continue peace talks described as the “most productive session” by a top U.S. negotiator leading the discussions with the hardline Islamists group to end the Afghan war.
Reuters

Tunisia bans niqab in government buildings
Prime Minister Youssef Chahed signed a government circular “banning access to public administrations and institutions to anyone with their face covered... for security reasons”, his office said. The ban on the niqab, which covers the entire face apart from the eyes, comes at a time of heightened security following a June 27 double suicide bombing in Tunis that left two dead and seven wounded.
France24

Culture min. underscores state’s great efforts to combat extremism, terrorism
Egyptian Culture Minister Enas Abdel Dayem on Saturday highlighted ongoing great efforts exerted by the Egyptian State to counter terrorism and extremist thought. She reiterated that the fight against terrorism is one of the main priorities set by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in light of Egypt’s cultural diversity and important role played worldwide. 
Egypt Today

Syria Kurds host conference on IS detainees
Dozens of international experts gathered in northeastern Syria on Saturday to discuss how to manage thousands of suspected Islamic State group members crammed into Kurdish-run prisons and camps.
Discourse on Development (DevDiscourse)
 

Zambo traders support barter trade revival
The Zamboanga City Barter Trade Association (ZCBTA) has expressed its  support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to revive the cross-border trading between Mindanao, Malaysia, and Indonesia-- commonly known as barter trade.
Philippine News Agency

BARMM

Gov’t Implementing Panel visits MILF’s Camp Abubakar
More than 300 are seated inside a community center here which was perhaps designed for not more than a hundred. Despite the heavy downpour, the crowd, with some of them standing under the rain, eagerly awaited as the guests arrived and settled down at the makeshift stage. A burst of applause erupted as the emcee wearing a crisp, camouflage uniform acknowledged each of them.
Luwaran

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte admin's rejection of UNHRC probe is flawed —Lagman
President Rodrigo Duterte administration's rejection of a looming probe by the United Nations Human Rights Council into possible rights violation under the war on drugs is erroneous in many respects.
GMA News

Philippine rights defenders support Iceland’s call for external probe into drug war killings
A group of Philippine rights defenders on Saturday backed Iceland’s draft resolution that will prod the United Nations Human Rights Council to call for actions on the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines.
Philippine Star

PNP: Foreign probe of PH killings may be ‘unnecessary’
Any foreign agency will investigate drug war killings in the Philippines may be “unnecessary,” Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

Gatchalian: Death penalty for drug lords will stop illegal trade
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday said death penalty will be a good deterrent to stop the operations of drug lords, even those who were convicted but managed to supervise drug trade from inside the jail.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

NGO: Bato’s ‘shit happens’ remark shows gov’t unconcern for war vs drugs deaths 
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s remark on the recent death of a 3-year-old girl in a buy-bust operation shows the government’s lack of concern for the fatalities in the government’s war on drugs, a non-government organization (NGO) said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Shit happens’… too often
Three-year-old Myka Ulpina was shot by police officers in the course of a bloody drug raid that targeted her father, Renato Dolorfina, on June 30 in Rodriguez, Rizal. Police spokesperson Bernard Banac explained what happened thus: “In that situation, it cannot be helped if there was an accident… if he used his daughter as a human shield.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

Operations/ Incidents

Cops nab 2 suspects; confiscate P256K illegal drugs in QC buy busts
Two suspects were arrested while P256,000 worth of illegal drugs were confiscated in two separate buy-bust operations in Quezon City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Suspected drug pusher slain in Laguna
A suspected drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation in Biñan City in Laguna province on Saturday morning. A report from the regional police office said the buy-bust happened around 1 a.m. in Barangay Canlalay.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Narcs raid suspected drug den in heavily populated Tondo area
Anti-narcotics agents backed by police raided a suspected drug den in a heavily populated area in Tondo, Manila, arresting at least seven suspects and seizing some P100,000 worth of shabu, or crystal meth, on Friday (July 5).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nueva Ecija cops gun down 3 alleged drug dealers
Nueva Ecija police narcotics officers gunned down three alleged drug dealers in separate operations in Talavera, Laur, and Cabanatuan, GMA News' Joseph Morong reported Saturday on Balitanghali.
GMA News

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

CHR probes human trafficking in Pangasinan
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday said had started its own investigation into the alleged trafficking of Lumads from Mindanao to Pangasinan.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

PH’s disinformation campaign in Geneva
It was a spectacle unlike anything else seen here in Geneva while I was attending the 41st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Philippine delegation, led by Undersecretary Severo Catura, walked out during an informal session on June 25 to discuss the Iceland-initiated resolution on the Philippines. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law 

PRRD opens Leyte’s P1.7-B rice processing complex
President Rodrigo R. Duterte inaugurated on Friday night the PHP1.7 billion privately-owned rice processing complex of Chen Yi-Agventures, targeting to modernize farming in 10,000 hectares of rice fields in Leyte province.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte inaugurates upgraded Ormoc Airport
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday led the inauguration of the newly-developed Ormoc Airport damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and a strong earthquake in 2017.
Philippine News Agency

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

Praying for the President and our country
President Duterte has been criticized, among others, for his human rights record, his misogyny, his foul mouth, his being a “tuta” of China, his going back on his word, his penchant for appointing Davaoeños and cronies to various government positions and government corporate boards to which their net contribution is negative, his vindictiveness. And one can list examples for each shortcoming.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

Ombudsman wealthier by P15M in 2019
Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ wealth grew by P15.3 million in five months since assuming the Ombudsman post, according to the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) released by his office on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

VP Robredo sees no problem with Imee Marcos taking electoral reforms committee
Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo sees no problem with Senator Imee Marcos taking the Senate committee on electoral reforms in the 18th Congress.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo calls on journalists to be the ‘voice of truth in our generation’
Vice President Leni Robredo called on members of media to “level up the conversation, stand the ground, and redeem truth-telling” as the country goes through “difficult times.”
Manila Bulletin

Robredo's net worth rises to P2.3 million in 2018
The net worth of Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo increased in 2018, the first time it did so since she took office. According to her latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), Robredo declared a net worth of P2,314,430.00 as of December 31, 2018.
Rappler

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Who will be the next Chief Justice? JBC opens nomination and application
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the nomination for the position of Chief Justice which will become vacant with the mandatory retirement of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Oct. 18, 2019.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

De Lima wants life imprisonment without parole, instead of death penalty, for heinous crimes
Instead of death penalty for extraordinary heinous crimes, detained Senator Leila de Lima wants the convict to suffer life imprisonment without the benefit or grant of parole.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

De Lima joins Lacson in asking for exemption of gov’t officials from bank secrecy law
Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has joined a Senate colleague in moving for the exemption of government officials from the coverage of the Bank Secrecy Law.
Manila Bulletin

Bong Go files bill seeking modernization of BFP
Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go has filed a bill that seeks the modernization of the country’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Manila Bulletin

Drilon files measure to ban all waste imports, set stiff fines and jail terms for violators
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Saturday called for a total ban on all waste imports and violators may face stiff fines or jail terms of up to 12 years.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Eddie Garcia bill to end overbearing ways of showbiz superstars
The overbearing ways of show business superstars and prima donnas will be over under the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act” that has gained instant support after it was filed at the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

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

LOOK: Duterte siblings meet with bets for Speaker
Two of the President’s children — Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio — met with House members vying for the speakership in the 18th Congress in Davao City on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Paolo Duterte reverses plan to join Speaker race; endorses Ungab
Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte on Saturday backed out of his plan to join the race on who will be the next Speaker of the House.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Gatchalian welcomes Polong’s withdrawal from Speakership race
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed on Saturday the decision of the Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Polong” Duterte not to push through with his plan to seek House speakership.
Manila Bulletin

Romualdez cites need for 18th Congress to jive with President Duterte’s war vs poverty
The 18th Congress is one with President Duterte’s war against poverty, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Saturday.
Manila Bulletin

Zarate: Makabayan bloc pushed for opposition speaker due to incoming 'anti-poor' policies
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Saturday said the Makabayan bloc decided to have an opposition member join the speakership race as they perceive more “anti-people” and “anti-poor” policies coming up in the last three years of the Duterte administration.
GMA News

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Año commends Manila mayor for showing ‘strong political will’
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año has commended Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso for “hitting the ground running and for showing strong political will’’ in enforcing law and order in Manila after only several days in office.
Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

COA hits hiring of Fil-Canadian consultant for P11.44 M, delayed environmental projects
State auditors have decried as ‘exorbitant’ and grossly disadvantageous to the government the hiring of a Filipino-Canadian consultant who was paid P11.447 million to help Department of Environment and Natural Resources in a reforestation program whose goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees over a period of five years.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

France, UK draw Locsin’s ire on rights probe
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday criticized France and the United Kingdom for supporting a draft United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution calling for an investigation on alleged massive human rights violations in the Philippines.
Philippine Star

West Philippine Sea

Carpio warns China could deplete Reed Bank of fishery resources
Supreme Court (SC) Justice Antonio Carpio warned that China could deplete the fishery resources at Reed Bank if its fishermen are allowed to continue trawling in the area.
Manila Bulletin

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

Final PCG-Marina report: Chinese ship failed to prevent sea collision
The Chinese vessel involved in the Recto Bank incident failed to undertake measures to avoid colliding with the Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver and eventually abandoned the boat's crew, in violation of maritime laws.
Rappler

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

LABOR

Violence erupts as Nutriasia workers go on strike in Laguna
Violence erupted at the factory of condiment-maker NutriAsia in Cabuyao City in Laguna province after “hundreds” of workers went on strike Saturday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH 

DOH awaits results of lab tests done on food samples from former FL’s party
The Department of Health (DOH) is still waiting for the result of the laboratory examination of the food samples in relation to the suspected food poisoning that happened during the birthday celebration of former first lady Imelda Marcos.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Farm advocate expects more youth becoming agripreneurs
THE Filipino farmer is going to be a vanishing breed in the next few years, unless the Philippines develops a new breed of farmers to enhance the country’s food security program.
Business Mirror

EDUCATION

DepEd set to promote culture of disaster preparedness
The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen its capacities to promote a culture of disaster preparedness as it joins the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month this July.
Manila Bulletin

ACT expresses elation for Congress’ action on teachers’ salary hike
For a federation of teachers, the bills pushing for salary increase filed by several legislators for the 18th Congress further prove that there are “ample grounds” to “substantially raise” the teachers’ pay.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Meralco cuts rates for 3rd month straight due to Tarlac solar farm
Electricity consumers can expect lower rates for the third month straight as the Solar Philippines Tarlac farm will start to dispatch to Meralco.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ERC partners with US incrafting gas rules
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has cemented a partnership with the league of American energy regulators for the crafting of regulation framework for the Philippine gas sector.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

HOUSING

DavOr to construct 50K housing units in 3 years
The provincial government of Davao Oriental has targeted a total of 50,000 housing units to be constructed in the next three years to address the housing backlog in the province. Flordeliza Tabanao, Provincial Task Force on Socialized Housing Chief, said a ground-breaking ceremony for the first batch, which covers Phases 1 to 3 of the project, was already done last week.
Philippine News Agency

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity lauds actions to reduce marine debris
The Philippines-based ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has lauded the region’s collaborative actions to prevent and significantly reduce marine debris, particularly from land-based activities.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR