IP leaders bring to UN concern over CPP-NPA atrocities
When Indigenous Peoples (IP) leader Christine Banugan gave her testimony about the atrocities of communist terrorist organizations in insurgency-ridden Philippines, at the United Nations Headquarters here on Monday, she started with a story about the murder of her father and other family members.
Philippine News Agency, Kalinaw News

Esperon sues church-based group, others for perjury
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday filed a perjury complaint before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office against representatives of organizations linked to the communist movement for claiming that Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Philippine News Agency

Karapatan decries more incidents of red-tagging against their members
Human rights group Karapatan said more incidents of red-tagging against their members and allies were reported “in light of the Court of Appeals 14th Division’s dismissal of Karapatan’s amparo and habeas data petition’’.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte has coup jitters    
Duterte is having coup jitters.  He is feeling the heat and is getting wet in his pants.  He anticipates that the people can rise in gigantic mass actions against his traitorous, tyrannical, brutal and corrupt regime and the military and police can turn against him as they did against Marcos and Estrada. 
NDFP

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Poverty alleviation needed to end insurgency in E. Visayas: Army
Even with the surrender of more than 1,700 members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the past two years, it is still a long way to go to end the insurgency in Eastern Visayas region (Region 8), a top military official said on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

Northern Negros town declares CPP-NPA persona non-grata
The northern Negros municipality of Toboso has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non-grata.
Philippine News Agency

SurSur town laud army for anti-insurgency campaign
The local Government Unit of Carmen, Surigao del Sur lauded Army’s 36 th Infantry (Valor) Battalion for the successful operation of anti-insurgency campaign against the Communist NPA Terrorist thru passing of resolution and awarding of certificate of
commendation.
Kalinaw News

CAPDev helps free Bukidnon village from NPA grip
The Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has hailed the Convergence Areas for Peace and Development (CAPDev) implemented in the village of Iba in this town as a model of transformation.
Philippine News Agency

Mayor: Evacuees welcome to stay in Oro
CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said Lagonglong evacuees are welcome to stay in the city as long as they follow the laws. "Dili man ta mangabog, ang ato is we honor the freedom of the abode," Moreno said in an interview.
Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

1 town, 2 villages in C. Luzon declare NPA as 'persona non grata'
Another town and two villages in Central Luzon have declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as "persona non grata".
Philippine News Agency

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

DND chief: Bombing raised extremism level
Friday’s suicide bombing at a military camp in Sulu province has raised the level of violent extremism in the country, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

Suicide attacks emerge in Philippines under ISIS influence
A number of apparent suicide bombings in the Philippines over the past 12 months are a worrying escalation of militancy driven by the influence of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia, security experts say.
Rappler, GMA News

AFP: 'High possibility' Sulu blasts were suicide attacks
The military said on Tuesday, July 2, that “there is a high possibility” that the deadly twin blasts that rocked an army camp in Indanan, Sulu, on June 28 were suicide bombings.
Rappler

First of 2 bombers in Sulu blast identified
The military has identified one of the two bombers that launched the explosions in Sulu last Friday that killed eight people and injured 22 others. Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the parents of the first suspect had come forward to claim his body.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

One of 2 Sulu bombers identified by own mother
One of the two bombers, who attacked a military camp in Indanan, Sulu Friday has been identified by no less than his mother, according to Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Straits Times

Are Suicide Bombings Becoming a New Normal in the Philippines?  
Last Friday, a twin suicide bombing killed eight people outside a military camp in the southern Philippines. While some specifics still remain unclear, the attack has nonetheless heightened fears about the prospect of suicide bombings becoming a new normal in terrorist attacks in the Philippines amid growing radicalization by the Islamic State (IS).
The Diplomat

'Sulu blasts show Islamic State still strong in PH'
The suicide attacks in Indanan, Sulu last Jun. 28 were a "show of force" by the Islamic State in the country, a terrorism expert said on Tuesday. Political analyst Dr. Rohan Gunaratna said the suicide bombing -- which killed at least 8 people and injured 12 others -- was a message by IS it still has presence in the country.
ABS-CBN News

Espinoza: Are we still safe from terrorists?
DREADFUL. The bomb attack on Friday, June 28, inside a military camp in Indanan, Sulu was the work of suicide bombers, similar to the bombing of the Catholic Cathedral on Jan. 27, 2019 in Jolo, Sulu. This was the initial finding of the investigation conducted by the military.
Sunstar Cebu

Kenyan national linked to Al-Qaeda arrested in Zambales
A Kenyan national who is allegedly a member of a terror group that pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda was arrested in his hotel room in Iba, Zambales, police said on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

2 suspected Abu Sayyaf members tagged in Basilan kidnap case fall
Two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were arrested in separate operations in Taguig and Manila, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

NCRPO downgrades alert status in Metro Manila
The security alert level status in Metro Manila has been downgraded to heightened alert after the intelligence community determined that there was no immediate spillover of terror attacks following the suicide bombing inside a military camp in Sulu.
Manila Bulletin

PNP-9 placed on ‘full alert status’ after Sulu attack
The Philippine National Police (PNP) units in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) have been placed on “full alert status” starting Saturday following the June 28 attack at a military camp in Sulu, an official said Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency

MARAWI

Robredo’s Angat Buhay hopes to complete the building of all 100 houses targeted for Marawi residents
Vice President Leni Robredo’s Angat Buhay program and its private partners seek to complete the construction of 100 housing units within the year for displaced residents in Marawi City.
Manila Bulletin

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Indonesia uncovers Neo-JI terror group that runs oil palm plantation business for funding
The arrest last weekend of an experienced leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has unearthed a new tactic used by the South-east Asia terrorist group. While militants such as JI had often relied on donations from members and sympathisers, and even robberies, to grow and fund their murderous activities, JI under its so-called "emir" (top leader) Para Wijayanto has been building economic strength by carrying on, among others, a oil palm plantation business in Sumatra and Kalimantan, police said.
The Straits Times, The Jakarta Post

Singapore police officer to lead new Interpol counter-terrorism unit for Asia-Pacific region
An officer from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) will lead Interpol's new Regional Counter-Terrorism Node (RCTN), and will work with police units in the Asia-Pacific region to encourage the transfer of intelligence concerning terrorist activities.
The Straits Times

China Snares Tourists’ Phones in Surveillance Dragnet by Adding Secret App
Border authorities routinely install the app on the phones of people entering the Xinjiang region by land from Central Asia, gathering personal data and scanning for material considered objectionable.
New York Times, Forbes

Syria calls Israeli strikes 'state terrorism'
Syria has accused Israel of committing "state terrorism" after Israeli air strikes killed at least 15 people, including children.
Aljazeera

War on terror is a priority of Russia’s G20 agenda, sherpa says
The fight against promoting terrorism and extremism on the Internet is prioritized by Russia’s G20 agenda, Russian Presidential Envoy to the G20 (Sherpa) Svetlana Lukash told reporters on Tuesday, noting that the issue was in the spotlight of the Osaka summit.
Russian News Agency (TASS) 

What can Australia do for children forced to live under Islamic State?
Nine children taken by their parents to Syria will now be taken home,but the question of how they will be reintegrated remains.
The Guardian
 

NCMF sends advance supervisory/medical team to Saudi Arabia to assist Filipino pilgrims
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has sent seventeen 17 staff today, July 2, 2019, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the mission to assist Muslim Filipino pilgrims for this year’s hajj.
Luwaran

LGU, MSU Gensan strengthens partnership on Halal industry, Madaris education
The Local Government Unit of General Santos City and Mindanao State University-General Santos recently concluded in a meeting on Friday (June 28) at the Chancellor’s Office that they will strengthen partnership to develop Halal industry and Madaris education in the city.
Luwaran

BARMM

Palace: DBM to release P59M for BTA members’ salaries
The government is releasing P59 million to cover the salaries of 82 Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) members from July to December 2019, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Sunstar Manila

BARMM, Save the Children join hands to advance kids’ rights
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in coordination with the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, inked Monday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Save the Children Philippines (SCP) on efforts to advance children's rights in the region.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

New Maguindanao gov delivers inaugural address in capitol Shariff Aguak town
New Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu delivered her inaugural address at the provincial gymnasium here Tuesday morning, marking the return of the seat of power to this town after almost a decade.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

‘Mobile capitol’ rolls anew in Maguindanao
For the third time since 1986, the “mobile capitol” is rolling again in Maguindanao province. This time, under new Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, the provincial seat of government is back to Shariff Aguak town after staying in Buluan town for almost a decade.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Former Basilan town treasurer killed
Motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and killed a former town official in the province of Basilan, a police official disclosed Tuesday. Lt. Col. William Gadayan, Isabela City police chief, identified the victim as Hadji Hataan Mundi Astanan, the former municipal treasurer of Sumisip, Basilan.
Philippine News Agency

SULU 

KISSA AND DAWAT: Is Sustainable Peace Possible for Sulu?
Four days ago we were awakened to yet another bad news from beloved Sulu. On Friday, a holy day for the Muslim population, was turned into a twin bombing attack. While military casualties were awarded and received medical attention, the narrative about civilian casualty is surprisingly absent. 
Mindanews

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

PNP mourns death of 3-yr-old used by dad as ‘human shield’ in bust
The Philippine National Police (PNP) mourns the death of a three-year-old girl who was believed to be used as a “human shield” by his father, a drug suspect, during in a bloody gunfight with the police last Sunday in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Operations/ Incidents

BOC seizes P1.4 M weed sent by mail from US
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized an estimated P1.4 million worth of  Kush marijuana concealed in  snack packs in Pasay City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

Cops nab 5 drug suspects; confiscate P544-K ‘shabu’ in QC
Five suspects landed in jail while 80 grams of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P544,000 had been seized during in a buy-bust operation in Quezon City on Monday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pregnant woman, 10 others nabbed in Cotabato City anti-drugs ops
An anti-narcotics official was stunned to find a pregnant woman among the clients of a drug den here during an anti-drugs operation Monday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

2 'elusive' pushers nabbed in GenSan drug bust
Police arrested two suspected drug suspects in a buy-bust operation Monday afternoon here. Maj. Tirso Pascual, chief of the city police's drug enforcement unit, identified the suspects as Alfie Magallanes, 38, resident of Susana Homes, Barangay Lagao and Brandon Escolin, 39, of Purok Panaghiusa, Barangay Dadiangas South.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

1,993 barangays in Region 1 now drug-cleared: PDEA
The Regional Oversight Committee has declared some 1,993 out of 2,906 barangays in Region 1 (Ilocos) as drug-cleared as of June 2019, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

CIDG arrests 8 Chinese for kidnapping 2 Chinese
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has arrested eight Chinese nationals who allegedly kidnapped two fellow Chinese in Las Piñas City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

SC dismisses Kapa investor’s P3B damage suit vs gov’t
The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by an investor of the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. (Kapa) seeking P3 billion in damages from the government.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Kapa members trading illegally face warrantless arrest – DOJ chief
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday warned officials and members of Kapa Community Ministry International (Kapa) that they could be arrested without a warrant if they continue selling investments without a license.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

Stop labelling LGBT community — Cardinal Tagle
Stop enclosing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community in labels. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said this Tuesday as he called the youth to avoid discriminating others.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

United Nations stands with LGBTQI
THE United Nations in the Philippines stands in solidarity with the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) Filipinos, their families, friends and allies in their pursuit of equality, inclusion and pride.
Business Mirror

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law 

Duterte: I fired so many friends
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said anew that he regrets running for president of the country because he had to fire so many friends whom he found involved in alleged irregularities in government.
GMA News

Duterte to AFP, PNP: Don’t stage a coup, please
President Rodrigo Duterte appealed on Tuesday to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to refrain from staging a coup d’etat during his term.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte to courts: Stop issuing injunctions, mandamus on criminal cases
President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to courts to stop issuing injunctions for criminal cases. “I hope you will stop the practice of issuing injunctions, especially for criminal cases. Do not do that as a matter of course,” Duterte said in his speech during the 72nd anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Duterte reiterates WPS, Malampaya ‘ours’
Speaking at the 72nd-anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday reiterated that the West Philippine Sea and the Malampaya natural gas reservoir belonged to Filipinos.
GMA News, ABS-CBN News

Palace on Duterte’s EEZ stand: His ‘prime duty’ is to protect our lives
President Rodrigo Duterte, as Chief Executive of the country, was just doing his “prime duty” in protecting the lives of Filipinos when he allowed China to fish in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Malacañang said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

PH to seek Chinese guarantee of rights and safety of Filipino fishermen in South China Sea
The Philippines is seeking China’s assurance that it would guarantee the rights and safety of fishermen venturing in the South China Sea following the Recto Bank incident.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte OK with no third party in probe of boat sinking
President Rodrigo Duterte is okay with having no third party on the probe of the July 9 sinking of a Filipino boat at the Recto Bank. “Eh okay na okay, ‘yung Presidente. Basta lang tapusin na natin ‘to,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte’s ‘toilet paper’ remark does not intend to belittle Constitution – Palace
President Duterte was not trying to belittle the Constitution when he recently described it as a toilet paper in the territorial conflict with China, Malacañang clarified Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte-Xi verbal agreement not valid – Lacson
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Tuesday that the verbal agreement between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi where the former is allowing Chinese fishermen to fish at the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) is not valid.
Manila Bulletin

Drilon: How do you prove Duterte-Xi verbal pact in impeach proceedings?
The verbal agreement between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Chinese fishermen being allowed to fish inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone may not be used as a basis for any impeachment suit against the Chief Executive, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has said.
GMA News

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De Lima gives Duterte midterm grade of 9 for ‘lies,’ ‘blunders’
Senator Leila De Lima agrees that the midterm rating of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is nine out of 10. But it is not for its accomplishments but for its lies, blunders and its failed war on drugs during the President’s first three years in office.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace: Duterte can ‘change’ mind on resigning if son joins speakership race
Will President Rodrigo Duterte make good on his promise to resign if his son Paolo joins the race for Speaker of the House of Representatives? Malacañang said the Chief Executive can “change” his mind.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte will keep his word and resign if son Paolo runs for Speaker — Go
Will President Rodrigo Duterte resign if his son Paolo joins the Speaker race in the House of Representatives as he promised earlier? Neophyte Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said Tuesday he believes the President will keep his word as he described him as a “man of one’s word.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace: Honasan appointed for his management skills
Former Senator Gringo Honasan was appointed Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) not for his expertise in information technology but his management skills.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

GSIS chief Aranas resigns – sources
Embattled Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Jesus Clint O. Aranas has resigned from the state-run pension fund effective today, July 2.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BREAK: Palace confirms GSIS chief Aranas’ resignation
Malacañang confirmed Tuesday that Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Jesus Clint O. Aranas resigned from the state-run pension fund.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lawyer Rodolfo D. Robles to assume United Nations post; 4 other appointments signed
President Duterte has appointed lawyer Rodolfo D. Robles as the country’s new permanent representative to the United Nations (UN).
Manila Bulletin

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Palace: PNP can’t arrest anyone with mere filing of impeach raps vs Duterte
The Philippine National Police (PNP) could not arrest anyone with the mere filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dela Rosa: Impeaching Duterte not a crime, but jail threat may have basis 
Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa believes that the mere filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte is not a crime.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Hontiveros to Albayalde: Is it PNP’s job to intimidate people?
Is it now the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) job to intimidate people who want to exercise their constitutional rights? Senator Risa Hontiveros had this to say to PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday after saying the police force will abide by Duterte’s possible orders to arrest those who will file an impeachment case against him.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

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OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Angat Buhay continues to get pledges, interests from communities abroad
The Office of the Vice President has been getting pledges, including those from Filipino communities abroad, for the continued implementation of its anti-poverty program.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

NAMFREL’s Lagman supports Sotto’s Hybrid Election Bill
The Hybrid Election Bill filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III gained the support of the head of the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL).
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

Duterte OKs DOST-developed tech that locates hazards in PH
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved two technologies that will help the government collect data for environmental hazards and assess situations for immediate disaster response.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

Carpio inhibits from West PH Sea case ‘for Calida’s peace of mind’
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday said that while there is no compulsory ground for him to recuse from the West Philippine Sea case, he opted to do so “for the peace of mind of the SolGen.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

SC to BIR: Do not deprive taxpayers’ right to due process
The Supreme Court (SC) has cautioned the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against violations of taxpayers’ right to due process in its efforts to collect taxes.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Go files bill restoring death penalty for heinous crimes
Neophyte Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday filed a bill seeking to reinstate the death penalty on heinous crimes like illegal drugs trade, plunder, rape, and murder.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Lacson revives bills fortifying anti-terrorism, anti-wiretapping laws
Senator Panfilo Lacson has refiled bills that seek to strengthen the government’s fight against terrorism and criminality.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Poe bats for ‘social media awareness’ lesson in schools
Senator Grace Poe has filed a measure seeking to make social media awareness part of the curriculum for both primary and secondary education in public and private schools.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poe wants monthly allowance for senior citizens
Senator Grace Poe is pushing for added social protection of senior citizens by giving them a monthly stipend to augment their expenses. Poe on Tuesday filed Senate Bill 126, which seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 7432, as amended by RA No. 9994, or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Give FOI bill ‘one big push’, Poe asks colleagues
Senator Grace Poe is appealing to her colleagues to give the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill “one big push” in the 18th Congress as she refiled the measure on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Drilon revives bills against political dynasties, turncoatism
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has revived bills prohibiting political dynasties and strengthening the political party system by discouraging turncoatism, or jumping from one political party to another.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Lapid refiles bill for foundlings
“The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.” Citing this oft-quoted adage, Senator Lito Lapid has revived his bill, seeking to provide a legitimate status to a foundling or an abandoned child with unknown parents.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lapid seeks to punish individuals behind fraudulent investment schemes
A bill seeking to widen the scope of economic sabotage by punishing not only syndicates but individuals who carry out fraudulent investment schemes has been filed by returning Senator Lito Lapid.
GMA News

Binay’s priority legislation focused on women, education
Senator Nancy Binay prioritized the improvement of the quality of education and the protection of women’s rights in her first 10 pet bills filed on Monday.
Philippine News Agency

Revilla pushes for workers' welfare in pet bills
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Monday filed 10 bills for the incoming regular session of the 18th Congress. Revilla filed a bill providing for a PHP125 daily-across-the-board increase in the salary rates of employees and workers in the private sector.
Philippine News Agency

Dela Rosa ready to face Senate debates: ‘Bawal bang mag-Tagalog dun?’
He may be a newbie, but Senator Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed no fear facing veteran legislators in the Senate. “Excited” was how Dela Rosa described on Tuesday his first two days at his new job.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

Solon files bill postponing barangay polls to May 2023
Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V has filed a bill postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to May 2023 from the original schedule on the second Monday of May 2020.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

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Paolo Duterte’s joining Speakership race surprises Inday Sara
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is surprised about the decision of Davao City Rep.  Paolo “Pulong” Duterte to join the House Speakership race.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

House to deliver landslide win for Paolo Duterte in speakership race – solons
The House of Representatives will deliver a landslide win for Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte if he pursues his bid for the House Speakership in the 18th Congress, his allies declared Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Koko Pimentel: Cong Pulong Duterte not a PDP-Laban member
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday urged members of the ruling PDP-Laban to support their party mates who are running for Speaker of the House.
GMA News

No vote-buying from Velasco camp, Gonzales insists
Contrary to his earlier pronouncements, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said tuesday he no longer knows anything about the reported “vote-buying” in the chamber for the Speaker race, even as he backed a possible probe into the issue.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

BIR simplifies withdrawal of deceased’s bank deposits
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said heirs may now withdraw bank deposits of the deceased relative, provided the bank withholds and remits to the bureau six percent of the total withdrawal.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG allocates P11.714 billion for development projects in municipalities
A total of P11.714 billion have been earmarked to finance the local development projects of 1,373 municipalities in the country this year under the Assistance to Municipalities (AM) Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Duterte hopes successor will sustain AFP modernization
President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping that his successor will maintain the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and take care of the needs of the uniformed personnel.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Army general in charge of elite units is next Nolcom chief
An Army general in charge of the military’s elite units will soon take the helm of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom). Maj. Gen. Ramiro Rey, commander of the Special Operations Command (Socom), will replace Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, who is stepping down from military service on Friday as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

10 of 16 Black Hawk helicopters to arrive in 2020 – Air Force chief
The first 10 of the 16 units of Black Hawk helicopters for the Philippine Air Force will be delivered in 2020.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

ADB seeks ‘sex-disaggregated data’ to gauge women’s role in entrepreneurship
IMPROVING data collection on women’s assets and business ventures will also help boost the economy and reduce poverty, according to experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Business Mirror

Maintaining price stability in the Philippines through inflation targeting
THE year 2019 marks the 70th year of central banking in the Philippines. It also highlights the many years of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) quest of maintaining price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy. 
Business Mirror

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

COA flags BOC over unauthorized release of questionable cargoes; overstaying containers
The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) over its unauthorized release of questionable cargoes while also allowing thousands of containers to overstay in various ports of the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

COA flags LWUA for failure to return P121M
The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the failure of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to return to the Department of Health some P121.5 million in unused funds meant for potable water supply projects across the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Taiwan extends visa-free privilege for PH till July 2020
Taiwan announced on Tuesday evening, July 2, that it is extending its 14-day visa-free privilege for Filipinos until July 2020 as "a display of Taiwan's amity with the Philippines."
Rappler, GMA News

West Philippine Sea

Nene Pimentel: Nothing wrong with allowing Chinese to fish in PH EEZ
Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said he saw nothing wrong with the recent pronouncement of President Duterte that he would allow Chinese vessels to fish within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the contested West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Justice Reyes: Instead of West PH Sea, spend on Pasig river
For Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr, there are “other important things” to spend the country’s resources on than to fiercely protect maritime and environmental rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Rappler

DSWD assures fishermen of sunken boat 'continuous assistance'
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the 22 fishermen of sunken Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver that it would provide assistance to them and their families until they have recovered and resumed their livelihoods.
Rappler

LABOR

TRANSPORTATION

Students appeal for extended hours of free train rides
Students on Tuesday appealed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to extend the hours for the free rides on the railway systems in Metro Manila which started last Monday.
Philippine News Agency

Partylist solons call for suspension of provincial bus ban on EDSA
Partylist lawmakers insisted yesterday that the “utterly oppressive” and “unconstitutional” proposed ban on provincial bus terminals on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) should be suspended.
Manila Bulletin

DOTr-PPA completes 200 seaport projects under Duterte admin
Enhancing connectivity and mobility across the archipelago, President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Maritime Sector and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), has completed a total of 200 commercial and social/tourism port projects from 2016 up until the present.
Philippine News Agency

HEALTH 



FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Gov’t loses P122.4 M over uninsured imported cows
The government incurred huge losses under its P707.520-million animal dispersal program due to the failure of participants to insure imported cows in their possession.
Manila Bulletin

EDUCATION

Teachers’ call on the 18th Congress to make pay hike for public school teachers a priority
A federation of teachers challenged the 18th Congress to make salary increase for public school teachers and education workers an utmost priority.
Manila Bulletin

DepEd order to keep teachers’ take home pay at P5,000; loan payment deductions to be limited
The Department of Education (DepEd) reminded its personnel of the “consequences” of applying for loans with lending institutions as it announced the implementation of the P5,000 net take home pay (NTHP) for fiscal year (FY) 2019.
Manila Bulletin

TESDA reshuffles regional, provincial officials; internal affairs unit established
New orders laying down the updated Regional Leadership Map and creating the Internal Audit Service as well as establishing the Interim Internal Affairs Service have been issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) top officer effective last June 28 and July 1.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

PSALM slates sale of idle power plants
State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has set the sale of two idle power plant properties to help reduce its liabilities. The properties are located in Barangay Aplaya, Jasaan in Misamis Oriental and in Toledo City, Cebu.
Philippine Star

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

Duterte OKs P25B Boracay rehab action plan
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the P25 billion Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan needed for the full rehabilitation of the resort island in Aklan after its six-month closure.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Puyat cites government’s determined effort to sustain Boracay tourism program
The government is determined to promote the sustainable tourism development of Boracay following the approval of its P25-billion medium-term action plan, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said Tuesday.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Misamis solon asks Customs to inspect over 800 possible trash shipments
Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Juliette Uy is asking the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to open the 880 overstaying containers vans which, she said, may be stuffed with garbage or hazardous materials illegally shipped to the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Fate of local importer of Canadian garbage up to PH courts – envoy
Running after the local importer of the tons of Canadian wastes that were shipped to the Philippines almost six years ago is now an issue for the Philippine courts to resolve, the top Canadian diplomat in Manila said Monday night.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

Romualdez sees construction of mini-dams as solution to water supply problem
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is calling on colleagues in the 18th Congress to support the proposed creation of the Department of Water to ensure sustainable and potable water supply in the country.
Manila Bulletin

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

New DICT chief urged to expedite free Wi-Fi service in SUCs
Newly-appointed Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gringo Honasan should expedite the setting up of free internet service in state universities and colleges (SUCs), several senators urged on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR