US State Dept. exec vows to look into CPP-NPA atrocities vs. IPs
A senior official of the US Department of State on July 18 vowed to look into Philippine tribal leaders’ claims of abuses and attacks by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) -- a group declared a terrorist organization by the US in 2002.
Philippine News Agency

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Last Mile Schools: Basic education for all Filipinos
Recognizing the need to reach out to and close the gap between students from Geographically Isolated, Disadvantaged and Conflict-Affected (GIDCA) areas and their counterparts in urban centers, the Department of Education (DepEd) has developed the Last Mile Schools Program.
Philippine News Agency

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More than P1M bounty offered for suspects in ambush of Negros cops
The government is offering more than P1 million reward money for any information that can lead to the arrest of the masterminds and cohorts who killed four policemen in Negros Oriental.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Business World Online

PRRD vows financial aid, jobs to kin of cops killed by 'Reds'
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night pledged financial, education, and employment assistance to the families of the four police intelligence operatives who were killed allegedly by members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Thursday afternoon in Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.
Philippine News Agency

Albayalde vows justice on brutal killing of cops
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde vowed on Sunday, July 21, serving justice on the brutal killing four policemen in Negros Oriental last week.
Sunstar Manila, Philippine News Agency

Over 20 ‘communist’ rebels charged for killing 4 cops
THE Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) has filed four counts of murder against more than 20 communist fighters who were reportedly involved in the ambush-slay of four policemen in Ayungon town on Thursday, July 18, 2019.
Sunstar Cebu

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3 years of Duterte’s counterinsurgency: 250 civilians dead, thousands displaced
Human rights group Karapatan documented 250 victims of extrajudicial killings and 10 victims of enforced disappearances from July 2016 until March this year. Moreover, nearly 370,000 civilians were affected by military bombings and 450,000 have evacuated due to military operations, Karapatan data showed.
Bulatlat

Southern Tagalog denounces rights violations under Duterte
Human rights organization Defend-Southern Tagalog (Defend-ST) revealed the human rights abuses in the region’s rural communities in a forum held July 20 at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
Bulatlat

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‘Morong 43’ to press fight vs torturers
Members of the “Morong 43,” whose case against cops and army generals was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan, on Saturday said they would continue to seek legal remedies to get accountability over their “illegal arrest, detention and torture” in 2010.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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CPP-NPA declared persona non grata in Davao Norte town
A resolution declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as persona non-grata was signed in Barangay Jose Libayao, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency

Lumads of Talaingod conducted peace rally
Lumad victims of CPP-NPA-NDF exploitation and propaganda subjected themselves to a three-day PEACE BUILDING SEMINAR with the theme “Kalinaw atong Kab-oton, Panaghiusa atong buhaton” which was initiated by the 56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion under the leadership of LTC NORMAN E VALDEZ INF (GSC) PA, Battalion Commander, held at Tribal Hall, Sitio JBL, Brgy Sto Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte from 18 to 20 July 2019.
Kalinaw News

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21 NPA Surrenders anew, 110 CPP-NDF members withdraw membership in Bukidnon
Twenty-one (21) Militia ng Bayan (MB) surrender to the government, nineteen (19) members of Sangay sa Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), forty-five (45) members of Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid (PKM), thirty (30) members of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MKBK), 16 members of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) a total of 131 withdraw their membership and support to Company Dario, Sub-Regional Command 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Command during the Community Support Program (CSP) Grand “Pulong-pulong” at Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay city, today, July 19, 2019.
Kalinaw News

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

MARAWI

COA flags missing docs for Marawi cooperatives' P64-million seed capital
The Commission on Audit (COA) found that only 2.3% or P1.516 million of the P65.73-million seed capital handled by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for Marawi City-based cooperatives in 2018 had been fully documented.
Rappler, Manila Standard

On the day of Duterte’s SONA, Marawi residents mount State of Marawi Bakwit
On the day of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, displaced Marawi residents will hand down their verdict on the Duterte administration’s efforts to rehabilitate Marawi r through their own State of Marawi Bakwit (Sombak).
Mindanews

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

IS fighter on our doorstep ‘ready to kill Australians’
An Islamic State terrorist living in a country right on Australia’s doorstep has said he is ready to kill non-believers including Australians because “God told him to do it”. The masked IS fighter from the Philippines gave the answer to 60 Minutes in an exclusive interview when asked by reporter Liam Bartlett, “would you be happy to kill people like me?”
News Australia

Female suicide bomber strikes hospital in Pakistan, 9 killed
A female suicide bomber struck outside a hospital in Pakistan on Sunday as the wounded were being brought in from an earlier shooting against police, in a complex assault claimed by the Pakistani Taliban that killed a total of nine people and wounded another 30.
Philippine Daily Inquirer 

Anti-extremism software to be used to tackle vaccine disinformation
Technology used to counter violent messages online from Islamic State and the far right is being adapted to counter the spread of “anti-vax” conspiracy theories.
The Guardian

Commentary: Washington's jab at China's religious freedom puts hypocrisy on display
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once again poked their nose into China's internal affairs. This time, their pretext and target is China's religious freedom. At a U.S.-hosted conference on religious freedom earlier this week, Pence made an incendiary speech against China. However, the U.S. leader's words were laden with fallacies and logical contradictions.
Xinhua

Egypt urges concerted int'l efforts to counter extremists' sponsors
Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights and International Humanitarian and Social Affairs Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin on Friday urged concerted international efforts to counter extremists' sponsors.  Gamaleldin was addressing the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, hosted by the US Department of State on behalf of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri. 
Egypt Today

China issues white-paper on counter-terrorism
Xinjiang's fight against terrorism and extremism is a battle for justice and civilization against evil and barbaric forces. As such it deserves support, respect and understanding," it was stated in a white-paper issued by the China's State Council Information Office.
The Nation Pakistan

Europe Could Pay High Price for Ignoring the Iranian/Hezbollah Threat
Since 9/11, and more so since the civil wars in Syria and Iraq, Europe has seen in the Sunni jihadi groups and organizations the major threat to its members states. The territorial defeat of the ISIS’s Caliphate has not changed this perception.
International Institute for Counter-Terrorism

Second Filipino pilgrim expires in Makkah
Another elder Filipino pilgrim expired while performing Islamic rituals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia Saturday afternoon, according to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

P50M set for socialized housing
BAGUIO City Mayor Benjamin Magalong is set to launch a project backed by the National Housing Authority (NHA) after NHA chair General Eduardo Del Rosario pledged P50 million for a socialized housing project in the city. The chief executive said a meeting with the NHA resulted to the pledge as well as possible support from the United States of America on housing for the Muslim community.
Sunstar Baguio

BARMM

‘Kids, youth main feature of Bangsamoro code’
The welfare of children and youth will be one of principal features of a Bangsamoro local government code to help them grow on firm foundation being both vulnerable to societal vile and potentials to human and community development. 
Manila Standard

Palace: BARMM failure not an option
Malacañang said being chosen as President Duterte’s point-man in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be a very important and sensitive task since the Palace cannot afford for the newly-established government to fail.
Manila Bulletin

P100 B needed to develop Bangsamoro’s agri sector
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will require a funding worth P100 billion to develop its farm sector within the next decade, according to the region’s recently crafted agriculture master plan that has already been submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte last week.
Manila Bulletin

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

NoCot guv, BARMM chief meet on fate of 63 villages
North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco has expressed readiness to turn over 63 villages in her province to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Philippine News Agency

Kidnapped burger joint worker found alive but injured
The kidnapped burger joint worker abducted Friday was found alive late Saturday inside a farm sack left along a road in Midsayap town in this province.
NDBC News

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

Annual vigil for peace at the reconsecrated Jolo Cathedral proposed
Mindanao’s lone Cardinal, Orlando Quevedo, OMI, has proposed an annual vigil for peace at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on July 16, the same day it was reconsecrated half a year after it was desecrated on January 27 with two bomb explosions that killed 21 persons and injured a hundred others.
Mindanews

TAWI-TAWI 

Philippine Marines secures Bongao town day and night
Servicemen of the 9th Marine Battalion of the Philippine Marine Corps do random patrols in Bongao to maintain peace in the municipality, capital of Tawi-Tawi.
NDBC News

DRUGS

UNHRC probe shows need for more clarifications on war on drugs —expert
The looming probe of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the Duterte administration's war on drugs only shows that more questions need to be answered regarding this controversial policy, a political scientist said Sunday.
GMA News

‘Denying int’l probe into Duterte drug war is denying people of truth’ — CHR
The Duterte administration should not reject the initiated independent investigation of the United Nations (UN) body into drug-related killings as this could be “denying the people from the truth,” an official from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Unnecessary to sever ties with Iceland – ex-Palace Spox Roque
Severing diplomatic ties with Iceland, which led a United Nations resolution seeking an international probe into the bloody Philippine drugs war, was unnecessary, former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque said on Sunday.
GMA News

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Bikoy and the PNP
When the series of videos titled “Ang Totoong Narcolist” were first released on social media in April this year, the initial response of the Philippine National Police was neither here nor there. They were obviously caught flat-footed, as surprised as everyone else by the sudden appearance of these shocking videos, which purported to expose the principal protectors of the country’s illegal drug trade.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Catholic Priest on Bikoy Charges: To be critical is not seditious
The filing of sedition charges against some members of the clergy is meant to scare and silence critics of the administration, according to a Catholic priest.
Manila Bulletin

Bishop calls for prayer assembly in support of churchmen accused of sedition
A Church leader has called on fellow churchmen to organize regular prayer assemblies in all parishes in support of the bishops and priests who were accused of sedition and cyber libel by the Philippine National Police.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima: Sedition case a ploy to divert attention from UNHRC move
Senator Leila De Lima on Sunday said the sedition case filed by the Philippine National Police against opposition members including her is a diversionary tactic from United Nations Human Rights Council’s resolution to look into the country's human rights situation.
GMA News

Operations/ Incidents

Couple falls, P50K shabu seized in Cotabato anti-drug op
A suspected drug-peddling couple fell during a sting operation in Barangay Rosary Heights 11 here on Saturday afternoon. Director Juvenal Azurin of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) identified the couple as Albeihi Kambali Biang, 29, and his wife Lady Rose, 27, both residents of said village.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

BOC tightens watch on importers, orders them to register
Representatives of importers and other stakeholders have been ordered to register with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as part of its stricter watch over transactions.
Manila Bulletin

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law 

Malacañang: Pacquiao's win shows Filipino spirit a 'fighter'
Malacañang on Sunday, July 21 said that boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao's victory against Keith Thurman showed that Filipinos are "fighters." On Sunday, Pacquiao snatched the World Boxing Association's super welterweight title from Thurman in a split decision, with two judges favoring the senator. 
Rappler

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Duterte: In the eyes of international media
President Rodrigo Duterte had always been under the lens of the media — not only here in the Philippines but also in the international sphere — even before he rose to power as the country’s chief following the 2016 national elections.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte’s hate story with the Church
”May pari ba dito?” (Is there a priest here?) For the past three years, this question has become the prelude to President Rodrigo Duterte’s scathing and profanity-laden tirades against the Catholic Church. Since becoming the President, he has made the Church and the Catholic priests among the subjects of his wrath.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Questions linger as glowing PNP data show Duterte right in brutal tack vs crime
At a campaign rally in April 2016 in Cainta, a town in Rizal province near the Philippine capital Manila, then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte used two words to describe how he would fight crime—suppress and stop.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Duterte’s 3rd year: More private weekends, fewer functions
President Rodrigo Duterte further cut back on his public appearances in his third year in office, enjoying more private weekends and snubbing official functions.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

3 years in power: Duterte tangles with his foreign foes
From his drug war to his profanity-filled speeches, President Rodrigo Duterte is a political personality like no other. This became especially clear when the President managed to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and threatened to wage war against Canada over trash.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH bolsters ties with traditional, nontraditional partners
A year since President Rodrigo Duterte reported Manila's increased efforts to bolster ties with both traditional and nontraditional partners, added cooperation agreements have since been secured. The government's commitment to protecting its nationals abroad was also reaffirmed under his administration, not only through the labor agreements signed but with the successful opening of three Philippine foreign posts halfway through his term -- the Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark) and the Philippine Consulates General in Frankfurt (Germany) and Houston (United States).
Philippine News Agency

Duterte asserts PH sovereignty to others, except China – analyst
A political analyst called out President Rodrigo Duterte for the "double standard" in his foreign policy. Bobby Tuazon, director for policy studies of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, pointed out the stark differences between the President's relationship with China and other countries and entities.
Rappler

How businessmen rate ‘Dutertenomics’
Who would have a better vantage point to assess the genuine state of the Philippine economy than the entrepreneurs on the ground and economists who monitor our economy?
Philippine Star

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Palace: Revival of the Offfice of Press Secretary not a priority  
Malacañang said the plan to revive the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) was no longer among President Duterte’s priorities, even if there was already an Executive Order (EO) ready for his signing that would re-establish the agency.
Manila Bulletin

SONA

Duterte's SONA 2019 to tackle corruption, drugs, rebellion, West PHL Sea
President Rodrigo Duterte will discuss in his State of the Nation Address on Monday the promises he made regarding curbing corruption, illegal drugs, rebellion, and the West Philippine Sea issue, among others, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Sunday.
GMA News

Duterte to tackle West Philippine Sea issue in Sona 2019 — Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to tackle the issue of the West Philippine Sea and other major issues in the country during his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte stumbled, had setbacks but continues to stay on top
The country’s firebrand leader had some moments of stumbles and setbacks but managed to stay on top on his third year in office.
Manila Bulletin

Senators expect SONA to rally the people; hope to hear plans for poverty alleviation
Senators on Sunday said they foresee President Rodrigo Duterte presenting a combination of a “report card” and “marching orders” on his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.
Manila Bulletin

Prelates weigh in on Duterte’s achievement, score his ‘utter lack of respect for human rights’
For a Catholic prelate, the biggest achievement of President Duterte in his three years in office was maintaining his high rating among the people.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo expects ‘inspirational’ SONA from Duterte
What does an opposition leader expect to hear from President Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address? Vice President Leni Robredo wants Duterte to deliver an “inspirational” SONA that will unify the country and the Filipino people.
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros hoping Duterte will explain his foreign policy in SONA
Incumbent Senator Risa Hontiveros is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will finally discuss his foreign policy in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima to Duterte: Stop the lies, crude jokes
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday said she hopes President Duterte would do away with his crude jokes and lies when he delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.
Manila Bulletin

‘Open City’ for SONA protesters; NCRPO to waive ‘usual security measures’
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be converting Commonwealth Avenue and nearby areas outside the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City into a virtual “open city” for protesters, the most gracious offer so far for anti-administration rallyists for Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

It’s all systems go for Duterte’s fourth SONA – House officials
It’s all systems go for the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte (SONA). This was declared by House Acting Secretary-General Dante Roberto Maling, chairperson of the Steering Committee of Task Force SONA 2019, and House Sergeant-at-Arms retired Major General Romeo Prestoza, chairman of the Task Force SONA 2019-Committee on Presidential Honors and Security.
Manila Bulletin

AFP on ‘red’ alert status for fourth SONA
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Sunday that it has raised its “red” alert status as part of security measures for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte on Monday.
Manila Bulletin

Environment group urges creation of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources Dept
A day before the 2019 State of the Nation Address, environmental group Oceana urged President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the creation of a full government department that would handle the country's fisheries issues.
GMA News

Central Luzon cops gear up for Duterte’s 4th SONA
The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) has heightened its security measures in the entire Central Luzon in preparation for the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
Philippine News Agency

PNP, AFP personnel in Region 10 to hold SONA peace rally
As protesters are expected to hold rallies in some parts of the country in time for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine National Police-Region 10 or Northern Mindanao (PNP-10) and the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) based here will instead hold a concert and medical outreach on Monday.
Philippine News Agency

‘Merienda cena’ for SONA guests, VIPs will be fusion of Filipino, Spanish cuisines
House Press and Public Affairs Bureau director Rica dela Cuesta said the Task Force SONA 2019 has prepared a “merienda cena” buffet for 900 guests , including members of the diplomatic corps, former Presidents, and Cabinet secretaries.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo laughs off sedition raps: I’m not that stupid
Vice President Leni Robredo laughed off on Sunday the sedition and other complaints filed against her and stressed that it would be foolish to imagine or plot the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, Rappler

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

MINDANAO

2019 SONA: Duterte's Mindanao promise nears fulfillment
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly expressed hope to see the promise of Mindanao fulfilled, or at the very least, approaching fulfillment before the end of his term in 2022. Since then, his administration has taken great strides towards doing exactly that.
Philippine News Agency

Biz leaders expect 4th SONA to focus on Mindanao's needs
Mindanao's business leaders said they expect Mindanao's development to take center stage when President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2019 on Monday (July 22).
Philippine News Agency

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Koko wants to uphold term limit amid federalism push
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III wants to maintain the term limit for lawmakers amid the push for the switch of government into federal form. In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Sunday, Pimentel said that upholding the term limit for senators and representatives will give young blood politicians more chances to serve in the government.
GMA News

JUDICIARY

Duterte appointees to dominate SC
One of the most humble and competent jurists I know, Justice Mariano C. del Castillo, will be honored by his colleagues on Friday, July 26, to mark his retirement from the Supreme Court.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Unliquidated SC cash advances flagged
The Commission on Audit (COA) has found P33.734 million in unliquidated cash advances at the Supreme Court, most of which were granted to the court’s regular disbursing officer.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senate committee chairmanships settled – Sotto
Senate President Tito Sotto on Sunday said he believes the committee chairmanships in the Senate have been settled. Sotto said Senator Imee Marcos would chair the electoral reforms committee.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Solon pushes for Philippine Boxing Commission after Pacquiao win
With Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao victory against Keith Thurman, 1-PACMAN party-list Representative Michael Romero on Sunday stressed the need for a commission that would regulate professional boxing and combat sports.
GMA News

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House solons still in a bind on who next Speaker should be
Majority of House members are still in a bind, as uncertainties and tension continue to surround the battle for Speakership.
Manila Bulletin

Cayetano, Velasco, Romualdez 'show unity' before 18th Congress opens
Lawmakers set to lead the House of Representatives proclaimed that they were united, as they held a meeting before the opening of the 18th Congress. In a Facebook Live video of leaders of major political parties on Sunday, July 21, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco said there will be no rift in the House to ensure that President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda is prioritized.
Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Salceda: Paolo's breakfast meet with solons may hurt Cayetano's chances
The election for the next Speaker may not end the way President Rodrigo Duterte wanted it to be, as Davao City Representative and son of the chief executive Paolo is calling for a breakfast meeting with congressmen hours before they open the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress on Monday.
GMA News

‘President’s wish’: PDP-Laban affirms support for Cayetano as Speaker
Ruling party PDP-Laban will be voting for Taguig-Pateros Congressman Allan Peter Cayetano as House Speaker, interim party executive vice president and Pampanga Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales said Sunday morning. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Sotto: NPC backs Cayetano as House Speaker
Senate President Tito Sotto III on Sunday said the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) would be supporting the House speakership bid of Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Beyond legislation: Political theatrics in Congress
Packed with star power, incoming lawmakers were a mix breed enough to send foyers buzzing ahead of the opening of the 18th Congress. But amusement and glitz aside, the latest roster of legislators gives a glimpse of what lies ahead for the nation in the last three years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Velasco confident Cayetano will be elected House Speaker
Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco was confident that Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano would be elected Speaker of the House during their Monday morning session.
GMA News

The 18th Congress: Battlefield for testy bills, vantage point for Duterte
Bunny Cadag is a transgender woman who was proud of it. A fast-food company that hired her for a transcription job was not.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

As Duterte tightens grip on House, opposition solons retool for a big fight
It’s barely a day before the 18th Congress officially opens, with the opposition House members facing the same old but yet dangerous prospects of a chamber run by the allies and family members of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

Deutsche Bank restructuring has no local impact — BSP
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the ongoing radical restructuring of Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank AG would have no impact on the business operations of the German bank in the Philippines.
Philippine Star

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Belmonte pens 14-point executive agenda; decentralization lies at its core
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is keen on providing a much improved delivery of efficient and responsive social services through her comprehensive executive agenda that will create lasting change in the locality.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

PSEi may trade higher this week
The Philippine stock exchange index may trade anywhere between 8,150 and 8,200, and may even try the next support level of 8,450 this week, traders said.
Philippine Star

Philippines food retail sector to hit $50 billion sales
The food retail industry in the country will continue to expand with total sales expected to reach a record-high $50 billion, driven by rising income and a growing population.
Philippine Star

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

US envoy Sung Kim ends tour of duty in PH, bids farewell
US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim bade farewell at a gathering here on Friday, saying he has reached the end of his three-year tour of duty in the country, which began in 2016.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DFA monitoring seizure of ship in Strait of Hormuz
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is closely monitoring developments following the seizure of a United Kingdom-registered MT Stena Impero by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
Manila Bulletin

3 Indonesian fishermen rescued by Mati City locals, Philippine Coast Guard
Local fishermen in Mati City, with the aid of the Philippine Coast Guard and local authorities, rescued 3 distressed Indonesian fishermen this week.
Rappler

West Philippine Sea

US concerned over China’s ‘interference’ in South China Sea
The United States said it was concerned about reports of China’s interference with oil and gas activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where Vietnam accuses Beijing of violating its sovereignty.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LABOR

Ban on deployment of OFWs to Libya stays: DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday reminded Filipinos that the suspension of job recruitment to Libya is still in place following the ongoing conflict in the outskirts of Tripoli.
Philippine News Agency, ABS-CBN News, Business Mirror

Labor group: We are still a 'Republic of Endo'
A labor group on Sunday said Filipino workers are still under a “Republic of Endo,” or country of contractual workers as the "anti-endo" or security of tenure bill was nearing to lapse into law.
GMA News

TUCP urges Duterte to grant labor force's wishes in remaining years of term
Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the appeal of the workforce sector in the remaining years of his term.
GMA News

TRANSPORTATION

Portions of two Metro Manila expressways to open Monday
About six kilometers will be added to Metro Manila’s road network starting Monday with the completion of two segments of two major road projects in the metropolis.
Manila Bulletin

DPWH rolls out road projects to solve EDSA, C-5 traffic
Decongesting the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila has been the key goal of the infrastructure department since 2016, so constructing several bypass roads and elevated expressways around the metropolis was seen as the long-term solution for the lingering problem.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

Roque declines PhilHealth position
Former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque on Sunday said that he would not want to take any position with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
GMA News

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

China keen on importing bangus from PH
Chinese government officials have raised the possibility of importing bangus or milkfish from the Philippines, Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona said.
Manila Bulletin

2.7K farmers, fishers get free insurance coverage
A total of 2,740 farmers and fisherfolk in Ilocos Norte will get free crop and life insurance coverages, courtesy of the provincial government and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).
Philippine News Agency

EDUCATION

ENERGY

DOE finalizing LNG project evaluation team
The Department of Energy (DOE) is finalizing a review committee, in partnership with the US government and University of the Philippines (UP), that will evaluate applications for liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as more companies are interested in developing the country’s natural gas industry.
Philippine Star, Business World Online

POVERTY

Goal: Get 6M Pinoys out of poverty
Efforts to attain the Duterte administration’s goal of lifting six million Filipinos out of poverty has gathered steam in the past three years. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista, head of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster, shared the Duterte administration’s gains in human capital development as an essential factor in socio-economic growth.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR