Reds reply tit-for-tat to Duterte, orders attacks on DDS, too
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Sunday (Aug. 4) described President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the military to respond “tit-for-tat” to supposed rebel atrocities as a “code for killings and torture” that would target civilians, promising to “fight back” for noncombatants who can’t defend themselves.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, NDFP

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CentCom chief loath to recommend martial law in Negros Oriental
Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (CentCom) chief Lieutenant General Noel Clement was not convinced that there was a need to declare martial law in Negros Oriental, despite the recent spate of killings in the province.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin

Palace assures captured rebels won’t be tortured
Despite President Duterte’s order to give New People’s Army (NPA) rebels “what they deserve” for the rash of  killings in Negros Oriental, Malacañang assured that government troops will not torture rebels who are arrested.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star

Negros island killings have 'very low' chance of spilling over to Zamboanga del Norte – army
The top Army officer here said he received a report that the killings in the two provinces of Negros may spill over to Zamboanga del Norte as government forces throw pressure against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros island, but noted the chances of violence spilling over as "very low."
Rappler

Moises Padilla mayor, vice mayor accused of rebel links
A FORMER member of the New People's Army's (NPA) rebel who claims now to be on the NPA hit list surfaced on Friday and accused the current mayor and vice mayor of Moises Padilla of having links to the insurgent group.
Sunstar Bacolod

Negros Oriental, a victim of bad decisions
THE July 23-28 killing spree in Negros Oriental that claimed the lives of 17 persons has prompted some quarters to call for the imposition of martial law in the province. 
The Manila Times

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Billion-peso govt firm under the control of Bayan Muna lawyer?
PRESIDENT Duterte’s critics claim that his popularity and political acumen, as well as his allies’ overwhelming victory in the May elections, have made him so powerful that he is on the way to becoming an absolute ruler.
The Manila Times

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NHA to build houses for IP’s, ex-rebels
The National Housing Authority (NHA) will be downloading PHP60 million to the provincial government here for the construction of a housing project for the Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities and former rebels (FRs) in Talaingod town, in this province.
Philippine News Agency

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8 NPAs surrender, yield 7 high- powered firearms in Bukidnon
Eight members of the Communist-New People’s Army-Terrorists voluntarily surrendered and yielded 7 high-powered firearms to 1st Special Forces Battalion, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) at about 1:20 p.m., yesterday in Purok 2, Brgy Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon.
Kalinaw News

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

One pastor killed, another church worker subjected to harassment in 2 days
The Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum assailed the continuing attacks against Church leaders and workers under the present administration – with the killing of a pastor in Cotabato and attempted arrest of a chuch lay worker in Bukidnon over the past two days.
Bulatlat

Security forces arrest BIFF member tagged in Isulan bomb attack
Security forces arrested on Saturday a suspected member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who is facing murder charges in connection with the bomb attack here in August 2018 which killed three people and injured more than 30 others.
Manila Bulletin

Daesh ‘is losing public support in Mindanao’
From Sept. 7, nearly 12,000 former members of the Philippines’ largest insurgency group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), are going back to normal life. “We are set to decommission the first 30 percent of our combatants, scheduled on Sept. 7, tentatively. This will involve around 12,000 combatants, and the next 35 percent will be decommissioned after the regional security structure is set up,” Murad Ibrahim, chairman of MILF, said in an exclusive interview with Arab News.
Arab News

MARAWI

Revisiting Marawi: Women and the Struggle Against the Islamic State in the Philippines
The Islamic State’s crimes against women are well known, but it has also managed to appeal to women to join the fight directly or otherwise support the group. Too often, however, governments fail to recognize this risk. Kiriloi Ingram of the University of Queensland draws on her fieldwork in the Philippines to argue that governments and civil society groups need to do a far better job of recognizing the dangers women can pose while also empowering them to help counter violent extremism.
Lawfare Blog

46 more unexploded bombs keeping Marawi folk’s return at bay
Authorities overseeing the reconstruction of this war-ravaged city are still searching for 46 more bombs that could be hidden underneath piles of debris left by the five-month long war against Islamic State-linked militants that ended in October 2017.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

Drugs: The Leading Cause of Terrorism
In 2011, when Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared before his nation saying that seditious elements and foreign agitators were on narcotics and thus deprived of their own cognitive abilities, he was laughed at by the western mainstream media who cheered on his subsequent assassination at the hands of al-Qaeda proxies working with NATO.
Eurasia Future

Russia’s Investigative Committee presses extremism charges against blogger
Russia’s Investigative Committee has detained and charged blogger Vladislav Sinitsa, who - under the nickname of Maks Steklov - posted threats via Twitter against children of police officers and National Guard members who provided law and order at banned rallies, the committee’s Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told reporters on Sunday.
Russian News Agency (TASS)

Trump tweets as gun violence and white nationalist terrorism stalk America
Two menaces have stalked America throughout its history. One is gun violence. The other is white supremacy. In El Paso, Texas, on Saturday they collided.
The Guardian

El Paso shooting to be probed as 'domestic terrorism'
The shooting that killed 20 people in the border city of El Paso in Texas will be handled as a case of "domestic terrorism", US authorities have said. 
Aljazeera, CNN 

Warning Over Terrorist Attacks Using Drones Given By EU Security Chief
"Drones are becoming more and more powerful and smarter," EU Security Commissioner Julian King warned this weekend, "which makes them more and more attractive for legitimate use, but also for hostile acts." This is not new news—the threat from a drone attack on a crowded space in the West has been focusing security minds for some time now.
Forbes

Iraqi intelligence says IS recruits women for terrorist attacks
The Iraqi intelligence service said the Islamic State (IS) militant group has recruited women for terrorist attacks, state-owned al-Sabah newspaper reported Sunday. The extremist group has let women increasingly participate in terrorist attacks, Abu Ali al-Basri, head of the Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Department at the Interior Ministry, was quoted as saying.
Xinhua

BARMM

IMT-15 Bruneian Contingent Pays Exit Call to MILF Leadership
Lt. Col. Mohammad Rizal Bin Haji Abdul Hadi, Leader of Team Site 1, Bruneian Contingent of the International Monitoring Team Batch 15, along with his Team Members ASP Muhammad Nurfairuz Nazri Bin Salleh and WO1 Zoolihsan Bin Haji Ali paid  Exit Call today to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front leadership, at the MILF Administrative Camp, Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, BARMM.
Luwaran

Floods, firefights twin woes for disaster workers
Disaster workers have had to face twin challenges in families fleeing flooded homes and areas of persuasive military offensives against suspected lairs of local extremists in Maguindanao.
Manila Standard

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

130 militiamen deployed in Cotabato City to boost security
Peacekeeping in this city got a big boost following the turnover on Saturday of 130 newly-trained paramilitary troops tasked to help in maintaining law and order. City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi welcomed 130 members of the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA) who were turned over by Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, to the supervision and control of Joint Task Force Kutawato commander, Col. Joel Abregana.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

Maguindanao IDPs suffer more due to flooding of temporary homes
Families seeking refuge from armed conflict in at least two evacuation centers in Maguindanao faced a new struggle after their temporary homes got submerged in floodwater following heavy rains, said a report by Rappler on August 2.
Luwaran

NORTH COTABATO

NoCot guv wants stalled provincial airport opened soon 
North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco on Saturday ordered the Technical Working Group (TWG) on the mothballed Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) or the M’lang airport to fast-track the processing of legal documents so the facility could operate soon.
Philippine News Agency

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Basilan gov’t intensifies rice production program
The provincial government has expanded its agricultural interventions meant to boost rice production in this island province. Gov. Jim Salliman said in statement Saturday the provincial government is now providing more comprehensive support to local rice farmers for them to have bumper harvests for every cropping season.
NDBC News

SULU 

9 troopers hurt in Sulu clashes
Nine Army soldiers were wounded in separate encounters with Abu Sayyaf bandit group in the jungles of Sulu on Saturday morning. The firefight erupted as government security forces were tracking down the bandit group, which is believed to be coddling foreign terrorists.
Philippine Star

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte warns cops not to get involved in illegal drugs
The country’s policemen will be the “first to go” if they get involved in illegal drugs, President Duterte warned recently amid his harsh campaign against the narcotics trade.
Manila Bulletin

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A drug detainee’s story: Humanity survives the inhuman
Based on an eyewitness account of one incident and recreation of scenes based on multiple interviews with relatives of the subject in the story. Names have been changed and some details, like exact locations, were ommitted for security reasons. Pictures were not taken also for reasons of the sources’ security.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Indicted prelates express thanks: ‘Prayer is our best weapon to fight evil
Catholic prelates included in the sedition case filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigative Detection Group have expressed their gratitude to the people who showed support and offered prayers for them at this time.
Manila Bulletin

Operations/ Incidents

Ex-village chair shot dead in Davao City
A former barangay chairman in this city was shot to death by unidentified perpetrators along C.P. Garcia Highway on Saturday afternoon. Capt. Maria Theresita Gaspan, spokesperson of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the victim was identified as Arnold Mascarinas Maalat, 49, a former village chief of Barangay Communal, Buhangin District, here.
Philippine News Agency

Austrian, girlfriend indicted for marijuana sale in Tuguegarao
A 42-year-old Austrian national and his 20-year-old girlfriend were indicted on Friday (Aug 2) after they were arrested in a buy-bust operation here, police said on Sunday (Aug 4).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

17 drug suspects fall in Bulacan
Seventeen suspects were arrested by the police in different parts of this province on Saturday as part of their continuous campaign against illegal drugs. Col. Chito G. Bersaluna, director of Bulacan Police Provincial Office, said eight of the suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by the operatives in San Ildefonso, San Jose Del Monte, San Rafael, and Calumpit.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

Kidapawan drug rehab center to open new building
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman, Secretary Catalino Cuy is set to lead the opening of an additional building in this city’s non-residential drug rehabilitation center on Aug. 14, the local chief executive here said.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Anti-gambling ops in Metro Manila net 12 bet collectors
Operatives have arrested 12 persons for illegal gambling during simultaneous police operations in Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

Davao Norte guv urges investors to file cases vs. scammers
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib has urged people who have put their money in various investment schemes to come out in the open and file charges against the operators and owners of these unscrupulous companies.
Philippine News Agency

Couple in P100M scam with affluent victims arrested
Police here arrested a couple who were allegedly running a multi-million peso investment scam and preying on known personalities. Col. Grace Naparatto, this town’s police chief, said police arrested Eduardo Rizabal, 45 and his wife Maureen Rizabal, 38, residents of Barangay San Jose, for seven counts of estafa.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

[OPINION] One woman's journey from Christianity to agnosticism
I was born in one of the quiet districts of Zamboanga, a peninsula of different people with different ideologies. It was like a common ground for a variety of religions—Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, and many others. There were occasional conflicts that would surface among them, but they were inevitable and infrequent.
Rappler

Bishops denounce ‘ideology of death’ in PH
The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) has condemned the “ideology of death” that is prevailing over the country. In a statement, the group said such ideology was responsible for the threats, harassment and killing of church people, the latest victim Pastor Ernesto Javier Estrella, who was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants on August 2, 2019 in Antipas, Cotabato.
Manila Bulletin

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Tell It to SunStar: Radioman harassed
A FORMER station manager of a radio station that focused on reporting Indigenous People’s (IP) issues was reportedly harassed by soldiers belonging to the 1st Special Forces Battalion based in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Sunstar Cebu

Rappler's Bacolod correspondent tailed by 'suspicious' man
A Bacolod City-based journalist pursuing stories related to the killings in Negros Oriental reported being followed by a "suspicious" man riding a motorcycle on Sunday, August 4. Marchel Espina, the chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bacolod and a correspondent for Rappler, said she was alerted by the driver of her rental car that a motorcycle was tailing them as they were returning from Canlaon City.
Rappler

Martial Law 

Duterte heads to China for a working visit this month
President Duterte is set to make his fifth visit to China this month and hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

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‘Be like priests, be celibate,’ Duterte tells soldiers
President Duterte has a friendly advice for government troops: Be celibate like priests. At an agrarian reform event in Davao City last Friday, the President said soldiers should have one or two children, and then get celibacy tips from priests so they can properly take care of their families.
Manila Bulletin

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Palace: Dissent against admin not curtailed; Duterte urges people to speak up
Malacañang maintained that with President Duterte everyone is free to express their dissent against his administration as he respects criticisms as long as it is not baseless.
Manila Bulletin

Palace says lawmakers still free to criticize Duterte
Malacañang said lawmakers are still free to criticize President Duterte despite the Chief Executive’s run in with Senator Richard Gordon last week.
Manila Bulletin

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Sara will likely win if she runs for president – Panelo
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio will likely win if she runs for president, a Palace official said Sunday. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that although President Duterte has discouraged his daughter from seeking the presidency, Mayor Duterte is competent to become the country’s next leader.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo delivers financial assistance to Gem-Ver crew for former DFA Sec. del Rosario
Vice President Leni Robredo delivered the P500,000 donation from former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario for the 22 fishermen of fishing boat Gem-Ver, which a Chinese vessel sank in the West Philippine Sea.
Manila Bulletin

VP: Cory Aquino popular for being key in restoring democracy
Cory Aquino was popular not only because she lost husband, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino Jr., but because she played a critical role in restoring democracy in the country after years of authoritarian rule under then President Ferdinand Marcos.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec welcomes any solution that could solve pre-mature campaigning
For a poll official, any solution to the problem of premature campaigning would be welcome. This was the reaction given by Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez to Senator Leila De Lima’s measure which seeks to clarify, penalize premature campaigning.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

NDRRMC: 371 areas in four regions submerged in flood
Continuous rains brought about by Tropical Depression “Hanna” and the southwest monsoon (habagat) left at least 371 areas in four regions across the country flooded, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

Death toll in Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy climbs to 31 — PCG
The death toll from the capsize of three ferries in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait due to bad weather rose to 31 on Sunday as rescuers found more bodies, a coast guard official said.
GMA News, Aljazeera, Reuters

MINDANAO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Recto wants allowance for teaching supplies increased from P3,500 to P10,000 a year
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is now seeking to increase the allowance of teaching supplies appropriated by the Department of Education (DepEd) from P3,500 to P10,000 per teacher, per school year.
Manila Bulletin

De Lima says ‘offending religious feelings’ should no longer be considered a crime
Detained Senator Leila de Lima is now seeking the passage of a measure seeking to repeal a provision in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) that punishes the crime of “offending religious feelings” through words and actions.
Manila Bulletin

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Sotto backs resolution to allow de Lima to participate in Senate hearings via teleconferencing
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday threw his support to a resolution that seeks to allow detained Senator Leila de Lima to participate in the hearings of the upper chamber.
Manila Bulletin

Sotto urges senators to control their temper during hearings
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday reiterated his reminder to his fellow senators to control their temper during hearings and focus on the issues at hand.
GMA News

Gordon: Duque can't skip next Senate hearings on PhilHealth
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III cannot skip succeeding Senate hearings on the issues hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) if he will not show up on the first scheduled hearing.
GMA News

Sycophants may have goaded Duterte into lashing out at me –Gordon
Senator Richard Gordon on Saturday speculated that sycophants may have provoked President Rodrigo Duterte into lashing out against him after he suggested that the president's penchant for appointing retired military officers to the Cabinet was a dangerous practice.
GMA News

Dela Rosa confident death penalty bill will be approved
Senator Ronald de la Rosa on Sunday said his bill proposing death penalty for drug traffickers stands a good chance of getting Congress’ approval compared to other bills restoring capital punishment not just for drug-related cases but also for heinous crimes and plunder.
Mindanews

House of Representatives

Solon pushes for compressed work week to solve Edsa traffic woes
In a bid to address the traffic woes along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa), a lawmaker on Sunday pushed for a compressed work week consisting of only four days.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lady solon files bill that will exempt gov’t doctors from salary standardization law 
A lady solon from Bicol has thought of a way to help keep doctors–especially those from the public hospital system–from leaving the country due to financial considerations.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News

Solon wants law schools to provide free legal services 
A neophyte lawmaker in the House of Representatives wants private and government-funded law schools in the country to put up their respective pro-bono legal aid program as a way to help less-fortunate Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin

Solon wants parents to plant a tree for every child they have
Citing the family’s role as government’s “partner” to mitigate the impact of climate change, a woman lawmaker has sought anew the passage of a bill seeking to require parents to plant one tree for every child born to them.
Manila Bulletin

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Defensor hails Castro’s ‘act of statesmanship’ for resigning as NUP member, president
Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor hailed Sunday the act of statesmanship shown by Capiz Rep. Fredenil “Fred” Castro after relinquishing his post as president and member of the National Unity Party (NUP). Castro, “out of delicadeza”, recently stepped down from his post.
Manila Bulletin

House move to become ‘paperless Congress’ gains support
Several environmental groups have pushed for the proposed shift to paperless transactions at the House of Representatives.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DILG enjoins the public to report unlawful activities in their barangays
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned erring barangay officials of strict sanctions if they continue to defy national and local laws especially obstructions on road right-of-ways.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

BRP Davao Del Sur now in SoKor to escort BRP Conrado Yap
BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), one of the Philippine Navy (PN)'s two strategic sealift vessels, arrived at the Jinhae Naval Base, South Korea on Friday afternoon after its successful participation in the Russian Navy Day Celebration in Vladivostok, Russia on July 28, 2019.
Philippine News Agency

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Filipino mistakenly arrested for wearing black shirt while passing by Hong Kong protest
A Filipino claimed that he was mistakenly arrested by Hong Kong police after he was suspected of participating in a rally in Mong Kok district, where he just happened to pass by Saturday night.
Manila Bulletin

American missiles in the Philippines?
IT does well to note that in 200 years, the foreign policy of the United States of America has not changed. In his farewell letter in 1796, President George Washington wrote: “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world.” Founding father and third US President Thomas Jefferson said in his first Inaugural Address, “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations—entangling alliances with none.”
Business Mirror

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Alien Employment Permit not a requirement for foreign workers securing their TINs
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said prospective foreign workers may get Tax Identification Number (TIN) without presenting Alien Employment Permit (AEP).
Manila Bulletin

TESDA training Team Pilipinas to WorldSkills competition in Russia
A team that will represent the country in the WorldSkills competition in Kazan, Russia this month is now being prepared by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH 

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION

How schools are dealing with depression among young Filipinos
Mental health is a basic right of every Filipino. More and more universities are introducing services—from psychosocial and psychospiritual sessions to the buddy system. It was a perfect storm.
Cebu Daily News

ENERGY

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

DENR bans swimming in parts of El Nido due to high coliform levels
A “no swimming” policy remains in effect in certain areas within Bacuit Bay and Corong-Corong in El Nido, Palawan, due to high coliform levels.
Manila Bulletin

PH highlighted in 2 international tourism meets
The Philippines grabbed the limelight as a viable destination for travelers from Europe and South America when it appeared in two separate programs showcasing the country’s biggest tourist attractions and addressing frequently-asked questions specifically on peace and order, security and natural calamities.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Prelature of Infanta urges government to stop Kaliwa dam project
Prelature of Infanta Bishop Bernardino Cortez continues to appeal to the government “to stop the Kaliwa dam project in the province and protect local communities and their environment.”
Manila Bulletin

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Recto commends DICT for sending ‘SWAT’ to Itbayat
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Sunday lauded the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for deploying a “SWAT” or “Special Wi-Fi Access Team” to earthquake-hit Batanes.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR