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Communist Rebellion

NUPL continued whining over ‘writs’ loss expected
In the wake of its loss over the writs of Amparo, habeas data, and kalikasan filed by Karapatan, Gabriela, and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) against the government, an official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Saturday said they expect militant human rights defenders’ group, National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL), to keep on complaining.
Philippine News Agency

Ibon Foundation no credibility to back UN resolution: Parlade
Citing its lack of credibility, a ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) has scored the Ibon Foundation for supporting the United Nations-adopted resolution, seeking for a comprehensive written report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.
Philippine News Agency

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DepEd orders temporary closure of 55 Lumad schools in Davao region
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Southern Mindanao has ordered the temporary shutdown of 55 schools catering to indigenous peoples communities in the region for allegedly deviating from the basic curriculum, among other reasons.
Rappler, Sunstar Davao, CNN Philippines

Last Mile Schools
Learners in the farthest sitios of Davao Oriental are beginning to see hope for better education as the government has started to open learning facilities called “Last Mile Schools” that cater to the indigenous youth in hinterland villages hardly reached by the government and its services.
Sunstar Davao

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Reaction to the UNHRC resolution to investigate Duterte killings    
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) welcomes the resolution of the UN Human Rights Commission seeking a comprehensive report on the widespread killings carried out both by police and state-endorsed death squads in the course of the Duterte government’s so-called drug war.
NDFP

CPP on PNP tagging communists as behind UN resolution: ‘Laughable’
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde’s statement claiming that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) could be behind the resolution urging the UN body to deeply investigate human-rights situation in the Philippines  is “laughable,” the revolutionary organization said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CPP denies it is behind UNHRC resolution to probe drug war
The Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday denied the allegation by Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde that it is behind the United Nations Human Rights Council's move to investigate the government's war on drugs.
GMA News

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NUJP CDO chapter chair, Davao columnist red-tagged by FB group
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on July 12 issued an alert on the red-tagging of the NUJP Cagayan de Oro City chapter president and the columnist of Davao Today who was illegally arrested and detained last month for at least half a day.
Mindanews

Statement of SunStar Cagayan de Oro on red-tagging reporter PJ Orias
THE Editorial Board of SunStar Cagayan de Oro stands with its reporter, PJ Orias, who happens to be the current chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Cagayan de Oro Chapter.
Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

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Provincial Task Force Holds “Whole-of-Nation” Immersion Activity in Hinterland Village in Lupon
In a continuous and serious bid to provide long-term solutions for poverty and insurgency, Governor Nelson Dayanghirang takes President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 or “Whole-of-Nation Approach to Attain Sustainable Peace and to End Local Communist Armed Conflict” down to the barangays through the province’s localized version Executive Order 
Kalinaw News

Central Luzon govs OK persona non grata declaration vs Reds
The governors of Central Luzon declared on Friday (July 12) that communist rebels were unwelcome in the region. The governors agreed on the declaration at the first meeting of the Regional Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTFELCAC) at the Kingsborough International Convention Center.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Philippine Information Agency

Army lauds MisOr villages in isolating NPA
The cooperation of rural communities has greatly helped the military in isolating communist rebels operating in the provinces of Northern Mindanao, particularly in Misamis Oriental.
Philippine News Agency

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Suspected Red killed in encounter with gov’t troops
A suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), was killed during an encounter with government troops on the boundary of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental provinces early Saturday.
Philippine News Agency, Kalinaw News, Philippine Star

Extremism

Army keenly follows reported presence of foreign terrorists in PH
The Philippine Army (PA) is carefully validating reports about the alleged presence of foreign terrorists in the country as part of its proactive measure to fight terrorism in the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin

Army: Foreign jihadists eyeing caliphate in Mindanao
The convergence of foreign jihadists in the country, encouraging violent extremism particularly in Sulu, is part of the Islamic State (IS)’s plan to reestablish a caliphate in Mindanao, an Army official said.
Philippine Star

AFP stepped up anti-terrorism push after Sulu suicide bombing —Army
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is bolstering various counter-terrorism measures following the suicide bombing that left eight people dead at an Army camp in Sulu last week.
GMA News

Sulu suicide bombing raises ante in government’s counterterrorism drive
THE attack on an Army camp in Sulu two weeks ago carried out by what appeared to be a Moroccan boy and a son of a Filipino Muslim convert, has raised to a higher level­—or into a new form—the government’s campaign against terrorism in Mindanao.
Business Mirror

Philippine National Police, various rescue units participate in anti-terrorism drill
Medical rescuers carry mock victims during an anti-terrorism drill inside a mall in Mandaluyong City, the Philippines, July 13, 2019. The Philippine National Police (PNP) and various rescue units conducted the drill to demonstrate their capabilities in responding to threats of terrorism. 
Xinhua

MARAWI

TFBM: No more Marawi IDPs staying at evacuation centers by Sept
The remaining internally displaced persons (IDPs) housed at Sarimanok Tent City Sites 1 and 2, were overwhelmed after hearing the announcement of the National Housing Authority (NHA), which leads the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Subcommittee on Housing that they will soon be transferred to their own temporary shelter units in August this year.
Bangon Marawi

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

26 killed in deadly Somalia hotel siege
Twenty-six people were killed and 56 injured in a 12-hour attack by Al-Shabaab jihadi on a popular hotel that ended early Saturday in the southern Somali port city of Kismayo.
Egypt Independent


Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack in Somalia
Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday the terrorist attack that targeted a hotel in the Somali port city of Kismayu. An official source at the Foreign Ministry renewed the Kingdom’s solidarity with Somalia against all forms of violence, terrorism and extremism.
Asharq Al-Awsat


Muslim Luton filmmaker to tackle 'hatred and extremism'
A Muslim filmmaker who worked on a Star Wars film and The Favourite has produced four short films for a £1.2m project to "tackle hatred, extremism and terrorism".
BBC News

What is the relationship between government counter-extremism policies and the Islamophobic far-right?
"Unlike most other forms of racism, Islamophobia has effectively been institutionalised by numerous governments." Writer and researcher, Dr Hilary Aked, says that official counter-extremism policies target Muslim communities and empower the far-right, contributing to the problem of Islamophobia in society.
Middle East Eye

‘Re-educating’ Chinese Muslims and all of Denmark
The “re-education” of Muslims in two different parts of the world — China and Denmark — has come sharply into focus. China’s ambassador to Britain dismissed a BBC report that Muslim children in Xinjiang region are systematically separated from their parents. Chinese authorities said the Uighurs are being educated in “vocational training centres” designed to combat extremism.
The Arab Weekly

Bangsamoro

BARMM

DBM releases funds for BTA officials and staff wages
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and cash allocation, in the total amount of Php59.4 million to cover additional funding for the salaries and other personnel services of 273 support staff of the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) for the months of July to December this year, the agency said in a statement posted in its website.
Luwaran

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Army division inspector-general named new JTF Kutawato chief
Army colonel Joel Abregana has been named as new chief of the military-led Joint Task Force Kutawato (JTFK) here Friday. Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), presided over the turnover of command at the JTFK headquarters in Pedro Colina Hill, this city.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Lamitan sea ambulance captains admired for performance
There are two lowly ambulance boat skippers here whose dedication to serve the poor are fascinating local residents. Jumdail Andal and Peter Go, each operating a sea ambulance of the Lamitan City government, have ferried 254 sick people to Zamboanga City for medication in one voyage after another in the past 24 months even.
NDBC News

Task force intensifies protection of Basilan forests
The Basilan Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force will intensify its crackdown on poaching of forest products in tropical timberlands in the province.
NDBC News

SULU 

TAWI-TAWI 

Shadow Economies

DRUGS

PH has the right to deny entry of UNHRC investigators – Gordon
Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee in the 17th Congress, on Saturday said the Philippines can refuse the entry of United Nations investigators who might be sent to check on alleged human rights violations against its own citizens.
Manila Bulletin

Cut ties with Iceland, Imee urges
Senator Imee Marcos said the Philippines should immediately cut its ties with Iceland for its intrusion in the country’s affairs.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Rappler, ABS-CBN News

Roque sees nothing wrong with PNP releasing drug war data for UN report
Former presidential spokesperson and human rights lawyer Harry Roque sees nothing wrong with the Philippine National Police (PNP) releasing data on killings linked to anti-drug operations if they have nothing to hide.
GMA News

PCOO rejects inconsistency claims on #RealNumbers figures
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Saturday rejected the inconsistency claims against its released figures on the government's campaign against illegal drugs, noting that the total deaths due to drug operations were 5,489 as of May 2019.
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

Boy, 4, mom wounded in drug bust that turned into hostage situation
A four-year-old boy and his mother were wounded when police shot dead a suspected pusher who had held civilians hostage in Lipa City in Batangas province. The shooting happened on Thursday (July 11) yet but details started coming out only on Saturday (July 13).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

2 college students caught with P1.1M worth of marijuana
Two college students were caught with P1. 1 million worth of marijuana in a police drug bust at dawn on Saturday in Balagtas town, according to the Bulacan Provincial Police Office.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

7 nabbed in Zambo Peninsula anti-drug ops
Policemen and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have arrested seven persons, including a government employee, and seized more than PHP20,000 worth of suspected shabu in separate anti-drug operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, an official said Saturday.
Philippine News Agency, GMA News

Car painter falls in drug buy-bust
Lawmen arrested a car painter during a drug sting operation here Friday night and seized PHP30,000 worth of suspected shabu. Capt. Rustom Pastolero, city police station 2 commander, identified the suspect as Aristo Abolencia, 40, of Notre Dame Village, Barangay Rosary Heights 8, this city.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

Zambo City to build ‘Balay Silungan’ for drug dependents
The city government has allocated PHP10 million for the construction of “Balay Silungan” to serve as a rehabilitation center for drug dependents in this southern port city.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Cops arrest 2 for illegal possession of firearms in Cavite
Police arrested two persons for illegal possession of firearms during the implementation of the search warrant, in line with the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operation on Thursday night.
Philippine News Agency

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

P12-M smuggled rice intercepted off Basilan
THE Philippine Navy, through the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem), intercepted Friday some P12-million shipment of smuggled rice near Basilan province, the military said Saturday, July 13.
Sunstar Zamboanga

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

Land Issues
NBI investigating DAR chief Castriciones for alleged P5M land payoff
Agrarian Secretary John Castriciones is being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over an alleged P5-million payoff in a land conversion issue under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Rappler
Indigenous Peoples
‘Exclude ancestral lands from default assets in China loan deal’
Ancestral lands used for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project must be spared from assets that could be confiscated under a China loan deal in case the country defaults in payment, members of the Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) said on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 
Human Rights

Group: No war in PH and yet attacks on civilians rising
The rising number of direct attacks on civilians in the Philippines despite the absence of “large-scale conventional war” caught the attention of researchers in a United States-based group because it exceeded the figures in countries where armed conflict was widespread, according to the group’s research director.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ARMS ACCOUNTABILITY
Should Israelis have the ability to supervise and oversee the alliances and military relationships their country forges? Should they be allowed to know who the country sells weapons to, what those weapons are used for and why? The answer should be a resounding yes, but sadly, that is not the case.
The Jerusalem Post

Impact of digital technologies on human rights recognized
New and emerging digital technologies have a huge potential but also present challenges in global efforts to promote human rights, according to a resolution approved last week by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Philippine Star

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression


'Persons of interest’ eyed in Kidapawan radioman murder
The police-led Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) in Kidapawan City bared that it has on its list several “persons of interest” in the July 10 murder of radio broadcaster Eduardo “Ed” Dizon of Brigada News FM in the area.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

NUJP raises alarm over safety of media practitioners in Mindanao
In the wake of the attack against a hard-hitting broadcaster in Kidapawan City, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is holding a forum here today, Saturday, July 13, to discuss the safety of media practitioners in Mindanao.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Iceland's foreign secretary: Govt's, civil society must unite to protect journalists
celand's Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson on Thursday, July 11, told a global forum in London of the steps his government has taken to help protect human rights and a free press around the world, including in the Philippines where the current government has "increasingly threatened" critical media.
Rappler

Jeremy Hunt: 'No place for neutrality' in fight for media freedom
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday, July 10, addressed a global conference in London where he explained why media freedom should be everybody's cause, how a free media helps society, and the "practical steps the British government will take" alongside its partners to protect and uphold press freedom around the world.
Rappler

Martial Law 

Governance

Duterte’s wish: In 10 years time, OFWs will choose to stay home
President Duterte is doing his best so Filipinos won’t have to leave and look for jobs overseas to support their families.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte: I have to think of Filipinos everywhere
President Duterte said he cannot just pick a fight against China no matter how hot-headed he is because of the number of Filipinos working and living there.
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte’s security concern is real
Shortly after the five-month long Marawi siege in 2017 that resulted in the death of the ISIS-affiliated former Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, along with over 900 terrorists that included foreign extremists, US intelligence officials confirmed that ISIS-leaning groups had indeed come into being in the Asian region. 
Philippine Star

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Noynoy Aquino to skip Duterte’s SONA for the 4th time
For the 4th time in a row, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will not attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of his successor President Rodrigo Duterte. This was confirmed by a source on Saturday, July 13.
Rappler

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Duterte might change mind, allow UN investigation if probers are 'sincere'
Malacañang has clarified its position on the impending probe of the United Nations into the country's human rights situation. Government officials have condemned the recently approved resolution at the UN Human Rights Council which asks Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate killings and alleged rights abuses in the Philippines.
CNN Philippines

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The role of alternative data
The Social Weather Stations’ Second Quarter 2019 finding of a “Very Good” satisfaction rating on President Duterte has, of course, pleased his partisans very much, and shocked his detractors to the same degree.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Apologize to Trillanes’ mother, Mr. President
President Duterte’s notorious vindictiveness (in his first State of the Nation Address, he categorically stated that he was not vindictive) may have reached a new low with his accusation that the mother of Sen. Sonny Trillanes was involved in the Kevlar scandal some years ago.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Uphold the 1987 Constitution
Never in the history of our country has a President disrespected the Philippine Constitution in a manner so shameful and shocking. Words do matter, and President Duterte’s depiction of the fundamental law of the land as worthless in the face of foreign power betrays a defeatist attitude that accepts the logic of the lawless that might is right. This is both inexcusable and unforgivable.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo may be impeached over UNHRC probe on PHL —PACC exec
Vice President Leni Robredo could face impeachment for supporting the United Nations Human Rights Council's planned probe into the Philippine government's war on drugs, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Manuelito Luna said Saturday.
GMA News

Robredo unfazed by impeachment threat over UNHRC-probe support
Vice President Leni Robredo's office on Saturday said that impeachment threats against Robredo over her support of a United Nations Human Rights Council probe on the government's war on drugs was “nothing new.”
GMA News

Robredo finds reaction of gov’t to UNHRC review ‘unnatural’
Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo called “unnatural” the reaction of the administration to the resolution seeking an investigation into the drug-related killings in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Robredo sees nothing wrong with the Executive Secretary acting as government caretaker
Vice President Leni Robredo has accepted President Duterte’s designation of the executive secretary and not her as the caretaker to run the government when the chief executive is abroad.
Manila Bulletin

The executive branch has no business meddling in the choice of house speaker – Robredo
Vice President Leni Robredo said it will be up to the lawmakers to decide who will be the next House speaker and the executive branch had no business meddling with.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

DISASTER

Upcoming Metro Manila shake drill aims to be ’realistic’
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Saturday said it would aim for a “realistic” scenario on the next earthquake drill.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

“Cha-Cha is Anti-Filipino” – Former Anakpawis solon
Ariel “Ayik” Casilao, Anakpawis Party-list National Vice-President and Former House Representative urged the people to oppose the Charter Change (ChaCha) saying that ChaCha is anti-Filipino and detrimental to the interests of the Filipino people.
Davao Today

JUDICIARY

3 make shortlist for Deputy Ombudsman
Three persons have been included in the shortlist of candidates vying to be Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Recto revives bill on debt amnesty to farmers under CARP
A bill that would grant amnesty on all the debts that farmers incurred in the process of land ownership under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) is revived in the Senate.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Rappler

Marcos backs reimposition of death penalty; wants ‘heinous crimes’ defined
Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday said that she is up for the reimposition of the death penalty in the country, but clarified that she wants to define what “heinous crimes” are.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dela Rosa proposal seeks to create peace and order council in every barangay
Neophyte Senator Roland Dela Rosa formally sought Saturday the creation of the Community Peace and Order Council that would involve barangay officials and their constituents in the prevention of crimes.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima to refile bill strengthening mandate of CHR in educating OFWs on their rights
Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has vowed to refile a bill seeking to strengthen human rights education and the system of legal assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amid continued reports of abuses against them.
Manila Bulletin

Gatchalian bats for creation of special education centers in all public schools
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian wants the Duterte administration to establish special education centers in all public schools in the country to promote inclusive education and enable schools to effectively handle the needs of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Cayetano files bill for abandoned children
Returning Senator Pia S. Cayetano has sought to codify the country’s laws on alternative childcare by filing a bill that would simplify the process of giving abandoned and neglected children a second chance at having a loving and caring family.
Manila Bulletin

Go proposes creation of Department of Overseas Filipinos
Neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go has filed a bill seeking to create a Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFs) that would manage, harmonize and strengthen existing policies and programs to address the needs of foreign Filipino employment.
Manila Bulletin

Dela Rosa files bill on ambulance use
Neophyte Senator Ronald Dela Rosa wants government officials and employees who misuse government ambulances face administrative sanctions and dismissal from government services.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Bacolod solon refiles proposed Universities and Colleges Mental Health Act
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya has batted anew for the passage of a measure seeking to recruit, hire, and train additional university-based mental health personnel.
Manila Bulletin

Solon bats for creation of dental unit in every rural health unit under DOH supervision
Negros Occidental Rep. Marilou Arroyo is seeking the creation of a dental unit in every rural health unit under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).
Manila Bulletin

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Cayetano’s threat to cut Senators’ term gets mixed reactions
The threat of Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano to cut the terms of senators to three years still has to get the nod of the Senate to be realized.
Manila Bulletin

Diehard Duterte Super Majority’s first goal: Improve House image
Instituting much-needed reforms to improve the public impression of the House of Representatives will be the priority goal of the Diehard Duterte Super Majority (DDSM) being formed by Malacanang’s choice for speaker, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Manila Bulletin

EXPLAINER: Who will be the Philippines' next House Speaker?
The search for the next speaker of the House of Representatives is a hotly contested one, with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte endorsing a term-sharing agreement between his 2016 running mate, Taguig City-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano; and his party mate, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.
Rappler

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Isko Moreno says he has no plans to run for president
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno bared on Saturday that he has no plans to run for president when his term in the city government ends, noting that he will instead focus on serving the people of Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PRRD Appoints Former AFP Spox, Alliance Builder as Army Commander in Southern Tagalog
A former military spokesman and Commander of the Army unit which has operational jurisdiction over CALABARZON was designated as Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division which covers Regions 4A and 4B on Friday afternoon.
Kalinaw News

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Sandiganbayan convicts NCMF officials
The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division has convicted three officials of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and a private individual of their criminal charges involving the anomalous use of the priority development assistance fund (PDAF) of the late Maguindanao 2nd District Congressman Simeon Ampatuan Datumanong.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

PH, US to hold 8th bilateral strategic dialogue from July 15 to 16 in Manila
The Philippines, along with the United States, will be holding the eighth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) this July in Manila.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

Locsin graces inauguration, dedicates Alkaff Bridge to PH-Singapore relations
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin graced on Friday the inauguration ceremony of the restored Alkaff Bridge in Singapore.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

SWS poll on West Philippine Sea, a ‘survey of silly questions’ – analyst
An analyst on international affairs has downplayed the results of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that 87 percent of Filipinos believe in government asserting its rights in the West Philippine Sea .
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Set aside sovereignty issue to solve maritime dispute with China, says Ex-ISAFP chief
The Philippines should set aside the issue on sovereignty in negotiating with China to resolve the dispute and assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea, a retired military general and intelligence chief on Saturday said.
GMA News

Palace hits critics for using survey to attack Duterte
Malacañang slammed critics of the administration for intensifying their attacks on President Duterte using a recent survey showing most Filipinos wanting the government to assert the country’s rights to islands in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Star

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IBP defends members in Kalikasan petition
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) vouched for the integrity of the lawyers who helped a group of fishermen in Palawan and Zambales provinces in asking the Supreme Court to order the government to protect them against China’s incursion into Philippine waters and the resulting environmental destruction in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LABOR

CBCP-ECMI supports creation of an agency solely for OFWs
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) has welcomed President Duterte’s plan to create a department that will focus on addressing different concerns of overseas Filipino workers.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

TRANSPORTATION

PITX served at least 7M passengers in 8 months — DOTr
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) bared that around seven million passengers had already been served at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) at least eight months since the landport started its operations.
Manila Bulletin

HEALTH 

Duque signs IRR of new HIV/AIDS law
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other members of the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) yesterday signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the new law on HIV/AIDS to better protect patients. 
Philippine Star

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

DA beefs up sorghum preparation
The Department of Agriculture continues to expand the production of sweet sorghum, a grain crop used as raw material for feeds, as it trains more local farmers for a more sustainable management of the crop.
Philippine Star

EDUCATION

DepEd reminds cafeterias of food safety standards amid alleged poisoning in Cavite school
The Department of Education (DepEd) called on public and private schools to strictly enforce food safety standards in cafeterias in the wake of reports of food poisoning of at least 40 students in a Cavite school.
GMA News

ENERGY

Sunset Pacific eyes oil exploration in Philippines
Sunset Pacific Petroleum Ltd., an oil prospecting firm with joint ventures in Tunisia and Oman, is eyeing a stake in one of the service contracts in the Philippines.
Philippine Star

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Isko Moreno vows to participate in DENR cleanup of Manila’s Malate creek
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno vowed on Saturday that the Manila government will cooperate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the rehabilitation of the polluted Malate creek.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH eyes customs strike team vs foreign waste imports
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is now studying the creation of a special strike team to curb the entry into the country of foreign garbage.
Rappler

Eco-group welcomes DOF’s creation of special strike team to avert entry of foreign waste shipments
Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition has strongly rejected foreign waste importation and has welcomed the move by the Department of Finance (DOF) to create a special strike team within the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to prevent its entry to the country.
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

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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