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Communist Rebellion

Gov’t task force says EU cut funding to missionary group
The European Union has halted its financial aid to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) after the government asked EU to stop supporting the group that it accused of being allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), according to Allan Capuyan, executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Mindanews

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Militants’ ‘scene’ at LA consulate disappoints Pinoys
It was supposed to be a healthy dialogue between indigenous peoples (IP) leaders from Mindanao and Filipino Americans (Fil-Ams) but turned momentarily awry, causing disappointment among Filipinos in attendance at the Philippine Consulate General office here on July 15.
Philippine News Agency

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Group assures constant monitoring of AFP’s internal security plan
The "Bantay Bayanihan sa Kapayapaan" in Negros Oriental has assured that it is constantly monitoring activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the province as an oversight body in the military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) implementation.
Philippine News Agency

Gov’t on pace to end NPA insurgency in 2 years: DILG
More and  more local government units are flexing their muscles against the New People’s Army as shown by resolutions condemning the rebel group. According to the data from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), there were already 272 LGUs that have passed resolutions declaring the NPA persona non grata.
The Mindanao Times

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Gov’t promises P500M for schools in Lumad areas
The government will set aside P500 million for the construction of new schools in far-flung areas to bring educational services closer to Lumad children, according to Allan Capuyan, executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Mindanews

DepEd admitting students from shuttered ‘lumad’ schools
The Department of Education (DepEd) assured on Thursday that students affected by the temporary closure of 55 schools serving “lumad” communities in Mindanao will be admitted in other nearby public schools.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Briones: No closure order vs. 55 Salugpungan schools
Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Thursday stressed that the Department of Education (DepEd) in Southern Mindanao did not order the closure of 55 Salugpungan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon (Salugpungan) tribal schools serving the indigenous peoples in the region.
Philippine News Agency, Rappler

Pasaka says Salugpongan schools obtained consent from IP villages
The group Pasaka denied accusations that the Salugpongan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center (Salugpongan) administrators did not acquire the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) before putting up the schools.
The Mindanao Times

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Cabinet exec vows insurgency-free Central Visayas by 2021
The designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) in Central Visayas on Thursday vowed to make Region 7 “insurgency free” by 2021.
Philippine News Agency

Escalante City declares CPP-NPA as persona non grata
The City of Escalante in Negros Occidental has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's (CPP-NPA) persona non grata and denounced the terror group's atrocities.
Philippine News Agency

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Duterte admin dismisses red-tagging petition as 'implausible'
The Duterte government dismissed as "implausible" the accusation of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) that its members were being harassed and threatened by the military.
Rappler

NUPL’s writ of amparo petition vs police, soldiers up for resolution
The Court of Appeals on Thursday submitted for resolution the writ of amparo case filed by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) against the military and the police with State lawyers opting not to present any evidence.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Child warrior, 12 other NPA rebels yield in SoCot
A child warrior was among the 13 New People's Army (NPA) rebels, who have separately surrendered to police and Army personnel in South Cotabato province following several negotiations, officials said.
Philippine News Agency, Mindanews

Rebel killed as Army, NPAs clash in Zambo Sibugay
A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while a soldier was wounded in an encounter in the Zamboanga Sibugay town of Kabasalan, military officials said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency, Kalinaw News 

Army seizes machine gun and explosives from NPA in Agusan del Sur
Operating troops of the 3rd Special Forces ‘Arrowhead’ Battalion (3SFBn) seized one M60 General- purpose Machine Gun during the recent clash with NPA terrorists in the hinterlands of Sitio Tibog, Barangay Mabuhay last June 16, 2019.
Kalinaw News 

4 cops killed in Negros Oriental ambush
Four policemen were killed after they engaged in a firefight with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Yamot, Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental Thursday afternoon.
Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Extremism

Palace says Duterte can declare martial law if terrorism spills over in NCR
President Rodrigo Duterte could declare martial law if terrorism spills over in Metro Manila, Malacañang said Thursday, following the recent suicide bombings in Sulu province.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

PNP: 2nd suspect in Sulu camp blasts not son of Moroccan bomber
The second suspect in the twin blasts at a military camp in Indanan, Sulu is not the son of the Moroccan suicide bomber who attacked a military checkpoint in Lamitan City, Basilan last year, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MARAWI

US provides additional P234-M aid for Marawi rehab
The United States is providing an additional P234 million or about $4.5 million to support the Philippine government’s efforts to develop and rehabilitate the city of Marawi, which was attacked by ISIS-linked terrorists in 2017.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Business World Online, ABS-CBN News

Academe sees IT can contribute to Marawi rehab
“The promotion of Information and Technology (IT) programs gives a picture of a community that is back on track, portraying the residents standing up, and we’re moving forward from traumas wrought by Marawi siege,” according to Engr. Azreen Morohomsalic, IT professor of the Mindanao State University (MSU) – Marawi Main Campus.
Bangon Marawi

DOLE extends livelihood assistance for rebel returnees
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has distributed 80 livelihood starter kits to rebel returnees through its Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
Bangon Marawi

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Preventing Violent Extremism While Promoting Human Rights: Toward a Clarified UN Approach
In response to the threat of violent extremism, the UN has adopted a comprehensive approach that involves both aligning ongoing interventions with the goals of preventing violent extremism (PVE) and implementing PVE-specific programming. These initiatives aspire to use human rights-based approaches as opposed to hard-security counterterrorism responses.
International Peace Institute


Muslim reformer Shireen Qudosi: We must protect children from radicalization by extremists
As a mother and as a Muslim reformer, I see no greater threat to humanity’s potential for peace than the perversion of childhood. As I write this, my own son is enjoying his summer vacation from school. He spends time daydreaming and building an imaginary world that he immerses himself in for hours at a time. But elsewhere, children are not so fortunate.
Fox News


On identity and extremism
A person may have multiple identities—he or she may be known by different traits. Just look at me. I am a person with more than one identity. I am a South Asian, I am a Bangali, I belong to a certain age-group, I am a man, I am a father of two daughters, I am a professional and so on.
The Daily Star Bangladesh

Islam Is Couched in Sufism in Morocco
In 2003, Casablanca experienced terrorist attacks at a popular tourist restaurant and internet café. Sui­cide bombers, from the shantytown of Sidi Moumen, aimed an attack directly towards discouraging Western influence by literally ridding the place of who they saw as its perpetrators — Western tourists in Morocco. 
Morocco World News

Pakistan and the curious case of Hafiz Saeed
The day the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague ruled in favour of India that former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav’s trial under espionage and terror charges in Pakistan violated international law, Pakistan also decided to move against Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. 
Observer Research Foundation

Pakistan, Terrorism, and Meeting Trump
Yesterday news broke that Pakistani police had arrested Hafiz Saeed, founder of the UN- and U.S.-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The United States government holds this terrorist group responsible for the November 2008 Mumbai, India terrorist attacks. Saeed himself has been under UN and U.S. individual terrorism designations for years. 
Council for Foreign Relations

AP FACT CHECK: Trump distorts Omar’s words on terrorism
President Donald Trump falsely accused Rep. Ilhan Omar of expressing pride in terrorists and misrepresented the record on the economy and health care in his freewheeling North Carolina rally. A look at some of his claims from Wednesday night:
Associated Press

US citizen brought back from Syria to face terrorism charges: report
U.S. authorities have reportedly brought an American citizen suspected of joining ISIS fighters in Syria back to the U.S. to face a trial. CNN reported Thursday that two U.S. officials confirmed the transfer of the unnamed prisoner, who is suspected of fighting with ISIS forces in Syria against U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Hill

Bangsamoro

7 Filipino pilgrims offloaded by airline for lack of vaccination
Seven Filipino pilgrims will not make it to the current hajj in Saudi Arabia after they were offloaded by Oman Air for their failure to get influenza and meningococcal vaccination required by the monarch government, according to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
Manila Bulletin

Sugoda Buayan Tarbiyyah committee hosts Islamic symposium
The Sugoda Buayan Tarbiyyah Committee hosted an Islamic symposium entitled The Role of Educators in Protecting Muslims from Injected Ideas aimed to keep the audiences being the followers of the members of the Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaah.
Luwaran

Lidasan: Hard answers, concrete solutions
BEING involved in peacebuilding means asking the hard questions. It means looking through areas where we might have missed, or else looking at previous actions that may have contributed to conflict in a certain area. Hindsight is important, in that we must examine the parts of our communities that have changed as the conflict wears on.
Sunstar Cebu

BARMM

BARMM selected areas undergo Child Rights Situational Analysis
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) selected areas are part of the ongoing research on Child Rights Situational Analysis (CRSA) being conducted by the Save the Children Philippines, Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) and the four ministers of BARMM who signed a Memorandum of agreement (MoA) last July 1, 2019 in Cotabato City.
Luwaran

PHL, Turkey to launch training program for BARMM farmers
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said the Philippines and Turkey will launch a joint exchange program to train leaders and farmers of the newly created Bangsamoro region on modern agricultural methods.
Business Mirror

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

2 Filipino tourists go missing in Thailand
Two Filipinos have been reported missing since Wednesday after they were reportedly swept by high waves on a beach in Phuket, Thailand. Authorities identified the missing persons as Noah Ibay and Angelo Bien Rafael Cortez.
ABS-CBN News

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

Illegal electric tapping kills 1, injures another in Lanao Sur
An attempt to tap electricity from the main power line of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Lasureco) turned fatal. One person died and another treated in a hospital for serious burns after being electrocuted Wednesday afternoon, July 17, in Barangay Salongabanding, Tamparan, Lanao del Sur.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pa, son deny being IS supporters, yield in Lanao Sur
A father and son tandem have surrendered to the military in Tubaran town, Lanao del Sur, saying they have been wrongly accused of being sympathizers of the Islamic State-inspired Dawlah Islamiya group, an Army official said Thursday. 
Philippine News Agency

BASILAN

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

Shadow Economies

DRUGS

PRRD's high approval reflected in anti-drug drive acceptance
Despite concerns aired by some quarters about the government's crackdown on narcotics, a ranking official said on Thursday that the initiative's acceptance among Filipinos is reflected by the high approval rating of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine News Agency

PDEA: Drug war death toll now over 5,500; arrests reach 193,000
The number of drug suspects killed in anti-drug operations has reached 5,526, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) showed Thursday. Another 193,063 drug personalities, meanwhile, have been arrested in 134,583 operations conducted nationwide.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Philippine News Agency, Reuters, Aljazeera, CNN Philippines

State forces should be accountable for deaths in drug war — HRW
Amid the discrepancy in the count of people killed in the government’s war on drugs, state forces should still be held accountable for the deaths, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.
GMA News

De Lima slams Malacañang for allegedly downplaying number of drug war killings
Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday slammed Malacañang for allegedly downplaying the number of killings from the country's war on drugs. De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his drug war, stressed the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) should not treat the deaths as mere numbers since the victims have families and loved ones who are still suffering from their demise.
ABS-CBN News

7,800 cops punished for deadly drug raids
Thousands of Philippine police officers have received administrative punishments with more than 2,000 dismissed for wrongdoings during raids where drug suspects were killed under the president’s crackdown, officials said Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Opposition, clergy face raps over ‘Bikoy’ videos
Vice President Leni Robredo and at least 35 others including opposition members are facing criminal complaints over the viral videos “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which accused family members of President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

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PH human rights exec says UNHRC resolution a form of ‘bullying’
An official of the Presidential Human Rights Committee on Thursday dismissed the adoption of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution, saying the move to probe the human-rights situation in the country is a form of “bullying.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News

Albayalde denies CHR claim that PNP ‘uncooperative’ in drug war deaths probe
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde on Thursday denied a claim by the Commission on Human Rights that the national police is not cooperating with them in probing deaths linked to the government’s war on illegal drugs.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

UNHRC resolution can still be 'reversed': solon
Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking a review of the Philippine human rights situation can still be reversed.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

Human rights groups, kin of EJK victims calls on government to stop abusive acts
Various human rights groups and the families of the extra-judicial killings (EJK) victims have called on the government to end these supposed abusive acts and cooperate with the United Nations report process.
Manila Bulletin

A global community
Some of our politicians have been threatening to leave the United Nations or one of its bodies, the UN Human Rights Commission. Such remarks should normally be dismissed as mumblings of politicians in search of public attention.
Philippine Star

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20 cops face raps over girl’s death in Rizal drug bust
The police officers involved in the anti-drug operation in Rodriguez, Rizal that resulted in the death of a three-year-old girl will face criminal and administrative charges, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

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Operations/ Incidents

P6.2M ‘shabu’ seized in Bacolod buy-busts
Police have confiscated an estimated P6.2 million worth of crystal meth, locally known as “shabu,” in two separate drug buy-busts in Bacolod City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

Suspected drug dealer killed in Pangasinan bust
A suspected drug dealer was killed in a shootout with police officers in a buy-bust operation in Pangasinan early Thursday. A report from Col. Rederico Maranan, director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO), identified the suspect as Clark Nardo alias “Sky,” of Barangay Alac San Quintin, Pangasinan.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

17 drug suspects nabbed in Bulacan police ops
A total of 17 drug personalities, including a minor, was arrested on Wednesday in separate buy-bust operations by Bulacan police.
Philippine News Agency

2 nabbed in Digos City drug bust
Police arrested a public utility vehicle driver and his companion during a drug sting Wednesday night here. Police Col. Ernesto Castillo, Digos City Police Station officer-in-charge, identified the suspects as PUV driver Jestonie Villaraza, 28; and Eric Dumdum Llapitan, 35. 
Philippine News Agency

Martial arts instructor falls in Dumaguete sting
A martial arts instructor was collared by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) on Wednesday night in a buy-bust operation at his residence in Purok Camia, Sitio Canday-ong, Barangay Calindagan here.
Philippine News Agency

Boy, 16, rescued in buy-bust; another drug suspect nabbed
A 16-year-old minor was rescued by elements of the Talomo police while another drug dealer was arrested in separate buy-busts on Wednesday night in New Matina Gravahan.
The Mindanao Times

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Recovery and Rehabilitation  

Antique eyes drug-cleared status before year ends
The province of Antique is expected to become an illegal drug-cleared province within this year with the continuous operations being conducted by the Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) in support of the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

DILG monitors 40 investment scams in Mindanao
Secretary Eduardo Año said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has monitored a total of 40 investment firms that are nothing but Ponzi schemes designed to defraud investors of their hard-earned money.
Philippine News Agency

Land Issues
Indigenous Peoples
IPs in crossfire
Out of sight, out of mind – a natural conclusion that is really a general rule. There are exceptions, of course, but time itself is a kind of ripening agent that makes the saying truer by the day. Out of sight, out of mind. How many good friends have we forgotten simply because distance, silence and long years apart made us focus somewhere else, on someone else? Even family is not exempt, by the way, Sad but true.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 
Human Rights

CHR to probe rape-slay cases of kids in Makati, Bulacan
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) vowed on Thursday to investigate the recent rape-slay cases of children in Makati and Bulacan. In a statement, CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the Commission “strongly condemns” the brutal rape-slay committed against a one-year-old boy in Barangay San Antonio, Makati and a five-year-old girl in Barangay San Miguel, Calumpit, Bulacan.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law 

Governance

President Duterte admits to losing sleep, weak appetite
Amid his heavy workload, President Duterte is losing some sleep and weight. The President said he only sleeps around five hours after a busy workday, and has become thin due to decreased appetite.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte outraged by rape-slay of 1-year-old boy
President Rodrigo Duterte is “outraged” by the rape and killing of a one-year-old boy, whose body was later found in Makati, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte and his crew of foul-mouthed Philippine officials: the new normal?
When Philippine government officials revealed last week that President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the Safe Spaces Act into law in April, his critics were struck by the irony.
South China Morning Post

No safe spaces
Congress, whose job is to make laws, should familiarize itself with the law of unintended consequences: an act causing outcomes unforeseeable or unpredicted. This is natural, particularly in a world populated by human beings. But unfortunately, President Rodrigo Duterte may have inadvertently signed a law of profound negative consequence for the country.
Business World Online

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PRRD summons 52 Customs personnel to Malacañang Thursday
A total of 52 personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are set to meet with President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Malacañang on Thursday afternoon. Based on Customs Personnel Order (CPO) A-284-2019, signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero, the employees were informed that they were invited by the Chief Executive to a meeting at the Palace at 4 p.m.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte orders BOC employees placed on floating status to remove water lilies from Pasig River
Better start removing water lilies along Pasig River. This was the directive of President Duterte to dozens of customs employees placed on floating status for alleged corruption.
Manila Bulletin

‘Corrupt’ Customs workers to face admin raps before Ombudsman – Palace
Malacañang will file corruption charges before the Ombudsman against officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace: Duterte to consider appeal of businessmen to veto Security of Tenure bill
Malacañang said that just like any appeal on any legislative measure, President Duterte will also consider the calls of business groups to veto the Security of Tenure bill.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

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Panelo says Duterte not afraid of ‘Caucasian’ probe
President Rodrigo Duterte is not afraid to face an international body’s investigation into his brutal war on drugs, Malacañang said Thursday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte still most trusted gov’t official? Not surprising, Panelo says
Malacañang is not surprised that President Rodrigo Duterte remains the most trusted government official, noting that his approval and trust ratings keep on increasing even as his detractors continue to hurl criticisms against his administration.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

Palace confident PRRD will sustain high trust rating until 2022
Malacañang on Thursday expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte will sustain his high approval and trust ratings until the end of his term in 2022.
Philippine News Agency

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Palace: Duterte invoking PHL-US treaty in China sea dispute just ‘sarcasm’
Malacañang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte's remark about invoking the country's defense pact with the United States to counter China's activities in the South China was just sarcasm directed at his critics.
GMA News

Duterte invoking US treaty 'sarcastic but with legal basis' —Roque
President Rodrigo Duterte's remark urging the United States to confront China over its expansive claim to the South China Sea may have been "sarcastic" but not without "legal basis," his former spokesman said Thursday.
GMA News

Palace: Duterte giving fishing rights to China assertion of PHL sovereign rights
President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to allow China to fish in the country's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea was an assertion of sovereign rights over the resources in the area, his spokesperson said Thursday.
GMA News

Tito, Koko back Duterte on Philippines’ giving China permission to fish in EEZ
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday backed President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that the Philippines was granting China permission to fish in the country's exclusive economic zone.
GMA News

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Palace wishes Sara Duterte good health
Malacañang on Thursday hoped for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s speedy recovery after the presidential daughter bared she is suffering from a medical condition that would keep her from attending the fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

Palace wishes Pacquiao ‘best of luck in the world’ in fight vs Thurman
Malacañang is wishing Senator Manny Pacquiao the best of luck as he faces unbeaten WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

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Panelo unaware of any Cabinet revamp
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he has no knowledge about any supposed Cabinet revamp that may take place anytime “soon.”
Philippine News Agency

Andanar: Next President has big shoes to fill
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that with just the first three years of being chief executive, President Duterte has already set the bar high for his successor.
Manila Bulletin

SONA

Sona novelty: Orchestral maneuvers in the House
For the first time, an orchestra will perform live for a State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the House of Representatives, a novel feature of President Rodrigo Duterte’s annual report this year on where the country stands since he took office in 2016 and where he plans to take it next.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte to become a ‘lame duck’ soon, says opposition solons
Opposition congressmen foresee the popular President Rodrigo Duterte becoming a “lame duck” in Malacañang sooner than later.
Manila Bulletin

Workers to march on July 22 in protest of Duterte’s labor policies
Thousands of workers from different labor centers under the banner of the “United Workers’ SONA” will march on July 22 to condemn what they called Duterte’s anti-worker government and also assert their demands for regular jobs, living wages, and respect for labor and human rights.
Manila Bulletin

Militant rights, cause-oriented groups hit government for alleged unfulfilled promises
Various human rights, militant and cause-oriented groups have condemned the government for its supposed unfulfilled promises, public’s continued financial hardships and the alleged unabated political harassment and abusive acts of state forces against critics of the administration.
Manila Bulletin

PNP ‘likely’ to inspect belongings of protesters on day of Sona
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday it will “most probably” conduct random inspections of belongings of protesters who will stage rallies near the Batasang Pambansa Complex on the day President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POLL: What good news do you want to hear from Duterte’s SONA?
Each year, the State of the Nation Address provides Filipinos an opportunity to hear about how the country has progressed in the past year, straight from the President. 
CNN Philippines

Defending China raw deal in SONA ‘will bind us to it’
President Rody Duterte’s fishing agreement with Xi Jinping not only is unlawful but also lopsided against us Filipinos, Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonio Carpio said. China will let us fish in our Scarborough Shoal, 150 sq. km, while it trawls our Reed Bank, 8,866 sq. km. China can even scour our whole West Philippine Sea, larger than our land territory.
Philippine Star

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo camp cries ‘harassment’
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday cried harassment over the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against her and 35 other individuals over the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
Manila Bulletin

VP’s improved approval rating elates Robredo camp
The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday welcomed as another inspiration the latest Pulse Asia survey showing the Vice President’s improved approval rating from 49 percent to 55 percent based on a poll between March and June. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Robredo respects denial of bid to end poll protest; says it’s ‘no victory’ for Marcos
Although “extremely disappointed,” Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s camp on Thursday said they respect the decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) denying her motion to end the poll protest filed against her by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec offices to hold satellite voter registration nationwide
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday directed all election officers (EOs) nationwide to conduct at least one satellite registration of voters in their locality during the two-month registration period set to start next month.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

PET refuses to dismiss Marcos’ poll protest: Robredo’s claim of victory ‘premature’
The Supreme Court sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has denied the bid of Vice President Leni Robredo to immediately resolve all pending incidents related to the poll protest of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News

DISASTER

‘Falcon’ leaves 4 dead
Tropical Storm “Falcon” (international name: Danas) gained strength as it blew out of the country on Thursday, leaving four people dead in two provinces in northern and central Luzon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

SC cautions trial court judges on issuance of TROs, injunctions
The Supreme Court (SC) has reminded the country’s trial court judges “to exercise utmost caution, prudence, and judiciousness” in the issuance of temporary restraining orders (TROs) and writs of preliminary injunction.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Gatchalian wants to scrap expiration of prepaid load credits
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to remove the expiration period of all prepaid load credits used for telecommunications services.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

Bato dela Rosa wants substance abuse prevention to be introduced to Grade 4 students
A bill seeking to integrate the mandatory substance abuse prevention education in the health curriculum as early as Grade 4 has been filed in the Senate. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief, said the current setup, where drug abuse prevention is given to Grade 9 students, could be too late for the child.
GMA News

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Senate almost done with committee assignments – Sotto
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday maintained that the senators’ dispute over the chairmanship of committees is almost settled.
Manila Bulletin

Pia Cayetano to head Senate ways and means panel: Sotto
Senator Pia Cayetano will head the Senate ways and means committee for the upcoming 18th Congress. Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed this to reporters in a text message on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency

House of Representatives

Twin measures seeking to promote the welfare of Filipino seafarers filed
Marino party-list Rep. Carlo “Sandro” Gonzalez has filed twin measures seeking to promote and safeguard the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers.
Manila Bulletin

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LP congressmen to join majority, may have abandoned check-and-balance for districts’ sake
Convinced that they can deliver “the goods to constituents” by joining the majority coalition,  more Liberal Party congressmen want to abandon their role as an oppositionist and bend  “like the bamboo” than retain independence as minority members which is what the party leadership wants.
Manila Bulletin

Cayetano team rubs solons’ feathers the wrong way; talks run rife of abbreviated speakership
Taguig Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano’s reign as speaker may not last 15 months as agreed upon with term sharing partner, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, unless close allies he appointed to manage the on-going House of Representatives re-organization “shed off some of their overbearing character”, a veteran lawmaker warned on Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

DBM commits to submit 2020 budget in 2nd week of August
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is targeting to submit the P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 in  the second week of August.
GMA News

Dominguez not keen on reviewing Rice Tariffication Law
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, President Duterte’s chief economic manager, has no plan to stop the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law, noting the newly imposed measure has drastically reduced the retail prices of the Filipino’s staple food.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

City of Manila to get urban planning assistance from Britain
“Done deal” This was how Manila Mayor Isko Moreno described on Thursday the offer of British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce to extend technical services pertaining to urban planning during their recent meeting.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PRRD lauded for AFP modernization, doubling of troops pay
For Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, President Rodrigo R. Duterte's continuous support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program and doubling of the salaries of all military personnel are his most significant achievements as far as the security sector is concerned.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte approves promotion of 9 PNP officials
A total of nine officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including its spokesperson, were promoted to the next higher rank.
Philippine News Agency

US delivers new rifles to the Philippines
The United States delivered military hardware the Philippines acquired Wednesday, part of efforts to upgrade the armed forces. The turnover happened on the same day President Rodrigo Duterte invoked Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington over maritime tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea, a remark Malacañang has called "sarcasm."
ABS-CBN News

DND to look for European military equipment 
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will visit five European countries to look into military equipment and platforms being sold by these nations. In a message to reporters Wednesday, the defense chief said he will be visiting France, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal this September.
Philippine News Agency

Albayalde: Procurement of body worn cameras for police ops still in bidding stage
The procurement of body-worn cameras to increase transparency during police operations is still at the bidding stage, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde.
GMA News

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

ADB trims Philippines growth forecast to 6.2%
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed anew its growth forecast for the Philippines this year due to the dismal economic output in the first quarter.
Philippine Star, Business World Online

Gov't keeping up hopes of 6-7% growth this year
President Rodrigo Duterte's economic managers have kept the government's growth goal between 6-7 percent this year, but approved wider budget deficits until 2022 to cover increased infrastructure spending which will fuel expansion.
CNN Philippines

Government urged to address slowed GDP growth, declining competitiveness
Days before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address, experts pointed out a number economic problems that they say the government needs to troubleshoot. Chief among those, they said, are the continuing deceleration of economic growth, loss of jobs and inflation.
Philippine Star

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

'Build, Build, Build' creates jobs for residents, IPs in C. Luzon
The massive infrastructure development projects being undertaken by the Duterte administration under the "Build, Build, Build" program in Central Luzon has created more jobs and sources of livelihood for the residents including the indigenous peoples (IP) in the region.
Philippine News Agency

‘Build, Build, Build’ brings more classrooms to Antique
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s "Build, Build, Build" program has provided more classrooms to the province of Antique. Department of Education (DepEd) Antique Division Engineer Rex Galero in an interview Thursday said the program of the president to construct more classrooms throughout the country has benefited the school children in the province.
Philippine News Agency

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Defunct Road Board mismanaged projects despite availability of P3.549 billion budget
Making P3.549 billion budget readily available to finance the National Road Lighting Program was not enough to ensure the completion and success of the project that is aimed at providing the country’s national roads modern lighting.
Manila Bulletin

COA asks HLURB to sanction designer for wrong design estimate which caused project P100M overrun
The Commission on Audit asked the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to impose appropriate sanctions against a building designer, consultant or agency official concerned in recommending an erroneous estimate of the building cost.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

US, PH pledge to enhance defense cooperation at conclusion of 8th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue
The enhancement of an already robust defense cooperation was pledged by the Philippines and the United States, which includes an improved defense infrastructure, updated personnel, and logistics procedure, increased mutual communication and coordination on operational elements of regional security.
Manila Bulletin

The Devil we know
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. unwittingly said something at odds with what his boss, President Rodrigo Duterte, has been saying since he came to power in 2016. The Philippines, “Teddy Boy” declared during a reception last July 4, the 243rd anniversary of American independence from Britain, cannot live without the United States of America because “she is all we have.”
Business World Online

West Philippine Sea

Duterte allowing China to fish in WPS proves our ownership
Pro-administration Sen. Francis Tolentino said President Duterte proved that he did not renege on his constitutional mandate to protect and assert the country’s ownership over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by allowing China to fish in the West Philippines Sea.
Manila Bulletin

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

Akbayan Youth to Duterte: Serve the Philippines, not China
Akbayan Youth called on President Rodrigo Duterte to serve the Philippines and not China as the President is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bayan: ‘The West Philippine Sea is not Duterte’s to give away’
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Thursday denounced President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal agreement with China giving the foreign country fishing rights in West Philippine Sea.
GMA News

LABOR

Japan school 'illegally' recruiting Pinoy teachers: POEA
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Thursday warned Filipino teachers against the supposed illegal recruitment activities of a language school in Japan.
Philippine News Agency

Close to 25K workers in W. Visayas get tenure under Duterte admin
Close to 25,000 workers employed in the private sector in Western Visayas were given security of tenure as employers heeded the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to put an end to contractualization.
Philippine News Agency

Envoy hails PH nurse vested with royal UK award
United Kingdom Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce congratulated on Thursday Joy Ongcachuy, the Filipina nurse, who was conferred with a royal decoration by Prince Charles in April.
Philippine News Agency

‘Endo’ bill may lapse into law
The much anticipated security of tenure (SOT) bill awaiting President Duterte’s signature may yet lapse into law. The bill, whose Senate version was adopted by the House of Representatives, was transmitted to Malacañang on June 27. It will lapse into law if not acted upon by the President by July 27.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TRANSPORTATION

5,000 slots open for ride-hailing applicants
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will accept 5,000 more applications for transport network vehicle service (TNVS) this month.
Manila Bulletin

Order permanently allowing hatchbacks as TNVS underway: DOTr
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Thursday a department order (DO) permanently allowing hatchbacks as transport network vehicle service (TNVS) is ongoing.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin

Angara calls for the immediate publication of Student Fare Discount Act
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Thursday called on the government to swiftly publish the new law institutionalizing the student fare discount now that students are anticipating its full implementation.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

202 dead due to dengue in 5 regions —NDRRMC
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday said dengue death toll in some regions has continued to rise as it now reaches 202.
GMA News

Nancy Binay wants LGUs to be more active amid rising dengue cases
Amid the rising dengue cases in several regions in the country, Senator Nancy Binay has called on local government units (LGUs) to be more active in containing impending outbreaks in their respective areas.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

WHO warns public against falsified rabbies vaccines, serum in PH
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the public against three different falsified rabies vaccines and one falsified anti-rabies serum circulating in the country.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Rice versus wheat
The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service recently reported that wheat imports by the Philippines increased 25 percent over 2018. This was attributed in part to reduced local production of both rice and corn.
Business Mirror

EDUCATION

DepEd offers quality basic education to inmates via ALS
True to its mission not to leave any learner behind, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to offer quality basic education to inmates through the Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Philippine News Agency

DepEd focuses attention on ‘Last Mile Schools’
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said that it will focus on strengthening about 8,000 “last mile” schools for geographically isolated and disadvantaged and conflict-affected (GIDCA) areas in the remaining years of the Duterte administration.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Iloilo power firm decries ‘fake news’ on Duterte backing takeover bid
A nearly century-old power distribution company in Iloilo City, which has been fighting a takeover bid, protested reports that supposedly quoted President Rodrigo Duterte as saying he was taking an active role in the effort to oust Iloilo’s existing power utility and replace it with a newly-formed firm.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

DENR offers relocation program to remaining ISFs along waterways
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu appealed to the informal settler families (ISFs) living along waterways to avail themselves of the government’s relocation program as their contribution to the Manila Bay rehabilitation.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

TV5 gets its franchise renewed for another 25 years
The TV5 Network got its franchise renewed for another 25 years after President Rodrigo Duterte did not sign the bill and eventually lapsed into law. Republic Act 11320 granted the television its franchise renewal after the bill lapsed into law on April 22.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

Without Duterte signature, bill extending CBCP’s broadcasting franchise lapses into law
The measure seeking to extend for another 25 years the broadcasting franchise of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)  has lapsed into law.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR 

International Alert Philippines is an independent peacebuilding organization that focuses on eradicating vertical and horizontal conflicts through research and analysis, advocacy, and capacity-building. We pool relevant news articles, blog posts, social media materials, and press releases through this daily digest to update ourselves and our partners on important events and ideas that may affect our programmes. Know more about us by following our social media accounts:
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