Gov’t to draw the line when people say enough of Reds’ lies
An official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) lambasted anew militant groups pretending to be human rights defenders of the aggrieved, saying the government will set the limit if the people are fed up with communists’ deceptions.
Philippine News Agency

IP leaders back from 'Truth Caravan' in US
A group of Indigenous People (IP) leaders from Mindanao came back Thursday from a monthlong tour to the United States were they conducted a “Truth Caravan” for various Filipino-American communities.
Philippine Information Agency

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On Duterte’s scheme of fascist dictatorship and the growing people’s resistance    
Friends among academics, journalists and political activists have repeatedly asked me whether Duterte is proceeding to establish a fascist dictatorship as a result of successfully rigging the 2019 midterm elections and obtaining overwhelming control of Congress and the local governments. 
NDFP

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16 killed in shooting incidents in NegOr in 7 days
A total of 16 people were killed in separate shooting incidents in various parts of Negros Oriental in just a span of seven days.
Philippine News Agency

Sinas to NegOr cops: Don’t tag NPAs in killings unless there is proof
The police in Negros Oriental are warned about conveniently tagging the New People’s Army (NPA) as the ones responsible for the killings in their province. Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, gave this warning as the Negros Oriental police continued with their investigation of the series of killings there.
Cebu Daily News

Albayalde orders deployment of more than 300 SAF troops to Negros
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said he had ordered the deployment of over 300 elite Special Action Force (SAF) commandos to the island of Negros following the series of killings in the area.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency

Martial law in Negros? Duterte didn't mention anything —Albayalde
President Rodrigo Duterte never mentioned putting Negros Oriental under martial law amid the recent spate of killings there, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said Monday.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

IBP condemns killing of ‘good, selfless’ Negros Oriental lawyer
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Monday condemned the killing of a Negros Oriental lawyer and called for a quick and effective investigation into the ambush that also hurt the lawyer's wife.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

Stop Negros Oriental killings, govt urged
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has appealed to the government to stop the spike in brutal killings in Negros Oriental, where 17 people have been killed in the past week.
The Manila Times

On the continuing Oplan Sauron killings and illegal arrests in Central Negros
The NPA-MCC strongly condemns the continuing Oplan Sauron killings and illegal arrests in Central Negros. In their obsession with their failure of chasing the NPA, the AFP/PNP turned their wrath on innocent civilians.
NDFP

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Court of Appeals junks NUPL’s bid for writ of amparo
The Court of Appeals has denied the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers' petition for a writ that would have provided its members protection from what they said were state-perpetrated attacks.
GMA News, ABS-CBN News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Groups ask SC to review CA dismissal of amparo case
Several human rights groups on Monday filed a petition for review before the Supreme Court (SC) over the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to dismiss for their petition for writs of amparo and habeas data for the protection of their members.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror

NUPL blasts 'ineffective' writ of amparo after CA junks protection plea
The Court of Appeals (CA) denied the petitions for writs of amparo and habeas data of rights group National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), which sought a protection order from the military and which would have prompted a more in-depth investigation into instances of red-tagging of lawyers.
Rappler

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TESDA broadens partnerships in formulating better services as part of effort for sustainable, inclusive peace
New strategies to ensure better services for communities are now being formulated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), along with the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as part of the state’s efforts to further promote sustainable and inclusive peace.
Manila Bulletin

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Davao City villagers renounce support for NPA
Residents from five rural barangays in Toril District here have renounced their support for the New People's Army (NPA) during the three-day peacebuilding seminar that ended on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

NPA Regular escape and surrenders, Hogtied on 1st attempt
An NPA regular “Yogabs”, 21, from Barangay Ililihon, Salay, Misamis Oriental and a member of Regional Sentro de Grabidad Compaq of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee escaped and found safety to the Barangay Council of Barangay Dumalaguing, Impasugong, Bukidnon earlier today July 28, 2019.
Kalinaw News

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AFP deploys more troops to secure natives in Mt. Balatucan
More Army troops were deployed at the Mt. Balatucan Range in Misamis Oriental province to secure the Higaonon tribe there from the New People’s Army Terrorists (NPA), Maj. Regie H. Go, chief of Public Affairs Office (PAO) of the Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID).
Manila Bulletin, Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Gov’t forces overrun NPA training lair in Quezon
Government troops on Sunday overran a New People’s Army (NPA) training and indoctrination lair in Sitio Lagmak of Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar town in Quezon province.
Philippine News Agency

9 BIFF, Abu Toraypie gunmen killed in Maguindanao offensive – military
Nine Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Toraypie Group gunmen were killed, with three more wounded, during a 10-minute firefight with Joint Task Force Central soldiers in Maguindanao's Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, the Philippine military revealed on Monday.
GMA News, Philippine News Agency

ASG member nabbed in Mandaluyong City
Authorities nabbed on Sunday a suspected member of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Mandaluyong City. Eastern Police District (EPD) director, Brig. Gen. Nolasco Bathan identified on Monday the suspect as Imran Sala-In Mutahayin, 24, who is based in Basilan.
Philippine News Agency

MARAWI

‘Marawi battle zone debris clearing halfway done’
The clearing of debris in Marawi’s battle zone is halfway done, according to the Task Force Bangon Marawi.  “We are now in the debris management, which is 50 percent (complete). By November, we would have cleared all unexploded ordnances and debris that need removing,” Task Force Bangon Marawi chairman and Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said yesterday. 
Philippine Star

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

In Overflowing Syrian Refugee Camps, Extremism Takes Root
On a scorching day in mid-July, the signature black flag of the Islamic State rose over al-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria. In videos posted online, women and children can be seen cheering as the homemade flag flutters over the camp, which holds roughly 70,000 Syrians displaced by the country’s devastating civil war.
Foreign Policy

Terrorism and organised crime: risks of shared responses
The macabre sale of human organs, trafficking of people and wildlife, drug crime, the smuggling of precious minerals – all have become lucrative revenue streams for organised transnational criminal groups. And there is growing anecdotal evidence that international terrorist groups such as Da’esh and al-Shabaab are exploiting the same channels.
Institute for Security Studies

AU mission trains Somali police to curb extremism
Twenty Somali Police Force (SPF) officers have ended a seven-day training in Mogadishu aimed at detecting and eliminating extremism in the country, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said on Monday.
Xinhua

To What Lengths Are Extremists Willing to Go to Destroy America?
Are extremists out to destroy America? While we often look at the ill effects of extremism — murder, rape, brutal corporate punishments, racism, etc. — we rarely look at what they actually want and why. The following feature explores those issues.
Clarion Project 

Unpacking the Shiite Protests in Nigeria and the Risk of Radicalization
In recent weeks, the Nigerian capital of Abuja has been the site of several violent clashes between security forces and Shiite protesters, prompting authorities to ban demonstrations outside government buildings on July 18. Tensions then escalated on July 22 as security forces opened fire on allegedly armed followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). At least 13 people died during the crackdown, including a journalist covering the story on the scene.
Stratfor

BARMM

BARMM pushes livelihood for ‘productive’ communities
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM) is pushing for a productive Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in Marogong, Lanao del Sur, by providing them a month-long livelihood training program on raising vegetables in their backyards.
Philippine News Agency

BARMM holds 1st Bangsamoro Budget Forum
In a bid to lay down guidelines, priorities, policies, and budget preparation forms for fiscal year 2020, the Ministry of Finance and Budget and Management held its 1st Bangsamoro Budget Forum on Monday, July 29.
NDBC News

Moro region adapts cash-based budgeting
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) has adapted the national government’s annual cash-based budgeting process, saying this would ensure “implementation readiness” of its programs.
Business Mirror

Bangsamoro parliament backs Marawi-born Dimaampao to SC associate justice post
The Bangsamoro parliament on Monday endorsed the appointment of Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao as the next Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice.
ABS-CBN News

450 PCSO numbers game outlets shut down in Cotabato, BARMM
Police authorities here and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have shut down more than 450 outlets of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) lotto and small-town lottery outlets over the weekend.
Philippine News Agency 

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Remains of 2 Filipinos in Thailand sea mishap brought home
The remains of two Filipino surfers from this city and Maguindanao, who went missing and were later found in separate coasts in Thailand, have been brought home, with one of them being immediately buried under Islamic tradition.
Manila Bulletin

NORTH COTABATO

Catamco wants all drug rings in North Cotabato neutralized
The provincial government on Monday urged authorities to stop the narcotics trade in North Cotabato that topped in arrests of traffickers from among Region 12 provinces in recent months.
NDBC News

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Army, private organizations aid public school in Basilan 
Army troops from the 18th Infantry Battalion (18IB) under the Zamboanga City-based Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), non-government organizations and the local government of the Municipality of Ungkaya Pukan worked together in aiding a public school in Basilan recently.
The Manila Times

SULU 

Military to contain, wipe out foreign terrorists in Jolo –Lorenzana
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said the military was closing in on foreign terrorists in Sulu's Jolo town, as these radicals no longer had the ability to shift their activities to other parts of the country.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times

TAWI-TAWI 

6 Indonesians, 3 Pinoys arrested in Tawi-Tawi for alleged illegal fishing
Six Indonesians and three Filipinos were arrested in Tawi-Tawi on Sunday by the Special Operations Unit of Maritime Police for alleged illegal fishing. The nine fishermen were nabbed after they were found to have onboard their banca dried shark and other endangered fish said to be caught illegally.
GMA News

DRUGS

Duterte offers to dump into sea ‘bad boys’ who will spoil serenity of Batanes
“Bad boys”, who will be caught for involvement in the illegal drug trade in Batanes province, should be tied and thrown into the sea, President Duterte said during his visit to the quake-hit province Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

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‘Bikoy’ surrenders to CIDG over cyberlibel case
Peter Joemel Advincula, who surfaced and identified himself as “Bikoy” – the narrator in the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos — surrendered to the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday night.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Operations/ Incidents

Suspected drug pusher dead in Batangas
A suspected illegal drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation in Ibaan town in Batangas province, police said Monday.  A report from the Batangas police said the buy-bust was conducted around 11:40 p.m. Sunday in Barangay (village) Talaibon against Christian Borja.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

7 youngsters, 4 of them minors, foiled in attempt to transport weed
Seven people were arrested at a bus terminal here on Sunday (July 28) after they were caught transporting nearly P3 million worth of marijuana.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

Diocese of Dumaguete breaks ground for drug rehab center
Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete led over the weekend the simple groundbreaking rites for a 16-hectare drug rehabilitation center in Barangay Silab, Amlan in Negros Oriental. The facility will cater to drug users who are seeking rehabilitation and treatment but cannot afford to go to Cebu or other places for lack of resources.
Philippine News Agency

37 drug-pusher surrenderers complete reformation program
The first batch of pusher-surrenderers in Western Visayas completed their three-month reformation program through the Balay Silangan centers in Tapaz, Capiz and Passi City, Iloilo.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

Kapa founder, et al respond to scam charges of SEC
Kapa-Community Ministry Inc. founder and president Joel Apolinario and his fellow co-respondents Monday (July 29) filed their response to the criminal complaint of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which accused them of engaging in an investment scam.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

U.S. House Subcommittee: Human rights situation in PH ‘appalling’
Citing the “thousands of persons who have been killed extrajudicially by authorities pretty much at the urging of President Duterte,” House Foreign Affairs subcommittee Chairman Brad Sherman (Dem-Calif.) noted that “the Philippines has yet to hold anyone accountable for these extrajudicial killings or at least announce the policy that they are opposed to them.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Martial Law 
 

Duterte mulls Spratlys Islands as resettlement area for stubborn informal settlers
Is the government running out of relocation sites for informal settler families, who just keep coming back to their former homes even after they have been relocated to better sites?
Manila Bulletin

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Duterte administration’s target: 90 percent approval rating
The Duterte administration is eyeing a higher approval rating for President Duterte even as he already enjoys high trust and satisfaction ratings on his performance based on the latest surveys.
Manila Bulletin

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Dear Mr. President
First, let me congratulate you on your fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona). For the first time, the expletive meters of mainstream media did not go on overdrive with the number of cuss words you spewed — only seven out of the many thousands of words included in your one-and-a half hour presidential address.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Palace assures swift, thorough probe on PCSO corruption
Malacañang said President Duterte was already thoroughly investigating the supposed massive corruption in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and gave an assurance to the public that the probe will be swiftly undertaken.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace: PCSO gaming operations to stay closed until probe is over
The gaming operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will remain suspended until the government concludes a probe into allegations of massive corruption in the agency, Malacañang said Monday.
GMA News

Nationwide inventory of PCSO-related cases kicks off
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez on Monday ordered all judges and branch clerk of courts nationwide to do an inventory of all pending cases involving the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and inform him of its status.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Go: Huge losses, corruption led to lotto, STL shutdown
Huge losses incurred during the past few months and widespread corruption had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to order the stoppage of lotto, small town lottery and all other gaming features of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Senator Christopher “Bong” Go bared Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dela Rosa backs Duterte’s ‘prerogative’ to close PCSO games
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop all gaming activities of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), saying Duterte has the prerogative to make such directive.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Suspension of gaming operations well within the President’s authority – Senator Tolentino
Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday said the suspension of all gambling operations licensed and franchised by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was well within President Rodrigo Duterte’s authority.
Manila Bulletin

Año: Duterte’s word makes shutdown of PCSO gaming outlets ‘legal’
Even if the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has yet to receive a written order from Malacañang, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has maintained that the suspension of all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming activities nationwide is deemed legal.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler

Prelate backs PRRD decision to stop Lotto, other games
A Catholic prelate on Monday supported the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to close down all gaming activities of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) due to “massive corruption”.
Philippine News Agency

Albayalde on Binay criticizing PNP for lotto closure: We know our mandate
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday assured the public that police would not relent in its operations against criminality following Senator Nancy Binay's criticism that authorities are focused on shutting down lotto outlets.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Albayalde: Jueteng may resurface following closure of PCSO gaming ops
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday admitted that illegal numbers game such as jueteng could resurface following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to close all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming outlets.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Zarate slams Duterte’s ‘unfair, illegal’ order stopping PCSO gaming ops
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Monday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for stopping all gaming operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), saying that it unjustly affects the poor beneficiaries of the agency.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poe: Bare officials behind corruption at PCSO
Senator Grace Poe said she wants the people behind the alleged corruption at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to be exposed.
GMA News

Isko cancels licenses, permits of PCSO gaming outlets in Manila
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Monday ordered the cancellation of the business licenses and mayor’s permits of all Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming outlets in the city.
GMA News

Church ready to assist those who line up for PCSO’s help – bishop
With the suspension of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming operations, a Catholic prelate is not discounting the possibility of an increase in the number of people that will seek the Church’s help.
Manila Bulletin

PCSO’s medical aid program to continue despite Duterte’s gaming ban
Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s order stopping all games operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) said its Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) will continue.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Workers displaced by closure of PCSO gaming schemes could seek SSS assistance – DOLE
Workers who will be displaced by the closure of all gaming schemes operated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) were urged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to avail of the unemployment assistance being provided by the Social Security System (SSS).
Manila Bulletin

Hontiveros to Duterte: Why punish ordinary folks over anomalies committed by your officials?
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday told President Rodrigo Duterte to dump his “fire-and-recycle” policy on public officials accused of corruption and questioned why he had to punish ordinary people over the anomalies committed by his officials.
Manila Bulletin

Binay urges DOLE to extend aid to displaced lotto workers
Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay on Monday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to immediately extend aid to workers affected by President Duterte’s order to suspend the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) gaming operations.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo calls for donations for Batanes earthquake victims
Earthquake victims need tents, emergency lights, food, and generators as rescue and relief operations by the government are underway in Batanes, Vice President Leni Robredo said.
Manila Bulletin

OVP looks to expand medical assistance operations to Visayas, Mindanao
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) wants to expand the coverage of its medical assistance for Filipinos who seek financial help from Visayas and Mindanao.
Manila Bulletin

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec: Voter registration period set Aug. 1 to Sept. 30
Voter registration will resume on August 1 even as President Rodrigo Duterte called for the postponement of the 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections during his State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DISASTER

At least 230 aftershocks recorded by Philvolcs after twin Batanes quakes
Two days after moderately strong quakes hit Batanes province, at least 230 earthquake events of small- to moderate-sized tremors have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Death toll from Batanes twin quakes rises to 9
Fatalities from the twin earthquakes that hit the province of Batanes over the weekend has risen to nine, the Itbayat Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) said Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

Solidum says recent Batanes quakes were first near Itbayat
The July 27 earthquakes in Batanes were the first recorded near Itbayat where eight people were killed while dozens of others were wounded, according to PHIVOLCS officer-in-charge Renato Solidum on Monday.
GMA News

Search, rescue operations in quake-hit Itbayat temporarily halted – Cayco
Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco said Monday search and retrieval efforts in the quake-stricken Itbayat town have been temporarily suspended since the ruins were not deemed safe.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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State of calamity declared in quake-hit Itbayat
The Itbayat municipal council on Monday declared the town under a state of calamity following the major twin earthquakes on Saturday. Local officials said the declaration would now allow the local government unit to tap their emergency funds.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Batanes quake damage pegged at P47 million
The cost of damage brought by the series of earthquakes which hit Itbayat, Batanes on Saturday has reached P47 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday (NDRRMC).
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Batanes governor says quake survivors need stress debriefing
Survivors of two powerful earthquakes that rocked Itbayat, Batanes on Saturday (July 27) will need stress debriefing to regain a sense of normalcy, Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco said on Monday (July 29).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Batanes quake survivors still in need of food, water, relief items
Residents and survivors of the earthquakes and aftershocks that rattled  Itbayat,  Batanes last Saturday are still in need of food, water and tents, Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. said Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Missing Ivatan recovered from collapsed cave in Batanes
The death toll in the Batanes earthquakes officially climbed to nine after the body of a missing Ivatan (inhabitant of Batanes) was unearthed on Monday inside a collapsed cave in Itbayat town.
Philippine News Agency

Filipino lensmen launch ‘Bayanihan para sa Batanes’ to aid quake victims
A group of Filipino photographers kickstarted an online fund drive aimed at helping the victims of a series of devastating earthquakes that hit Batanes province on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Navy units now helping in Batanes quake relief efforts
Naval units are now being deployed to help the residents of quake-battered Itbayat town in Batanes province. "Units under Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) stationed in Itbayat collaborated with the local DRRMC (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) in the conduct of relief and rescue operations immediately after the earthquake struck," Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Captain Jonathan Zata said in a statement forwarded to reporters Monday.
Philippine News Agency 

DND, military to play major role in Itbayat rehab: Lorenzana
The defense and military sectors will be playing a major role in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation of quake-battered Itbayat, Batanes.
Philippine News Agency 

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MINDANAO

Special ecozones eyed for Mindanao
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) pledged to strengthen ties in developing special economic zones in Mindanao, following the government’s call to boost activities in the countryside.
The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin

2019 Mindanao business conference slated
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan, Inc., in cooperation with Bangon Marawi Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), will host the 28th Mindanao Business Conference this year. Businessman Abdul Rashid Elian Macala on his Facebook post said the forthcoming conference will be held at the gymnasium of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Tibanga here on Sept. 12-14, 2019. 
The Manila Times

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Bye-bye Cha-cha
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has opted for populism instead of radical and revolutionary reforms. Lately, the President has admitted that there are fundamental problems that he may not have the time nor the health nor the legislative superiority to accomplish with finality.
Manila Bulletin

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

After Duterte veto, Villanueva refiles Security of Tenure bill
Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday refiled the Security of Tenure bill, which was recently vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, ABS-CBN News

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Drilon files anew cyber libel charge against ex-Iloilo provincial administrator
Senator Franklin Drilon has again filed a cyber libel complaint against former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada.
Manila Bulletin

House of Representatives

Political clans take House seats in tandems and trios
As the 18th Congress opens, at least 20 political families in the House of Representatives will be sitting together as husbands and wives; parents and children; siblings; cousins; uncles; aunts and in-laws.
ABS-CBN News

Romualdez: House to pass tax, economic reform bills by end of 2019
The House of Representatives will aim to pass the tax and economic reform bills of the Duterte administration by yearend, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Solon bats for LBP-DBP merger amid Duterte’s SONA tirade
How about re-exploring the halted merger between the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)? Oriental Mindoro 1st district Rep. Doy Leachon floated this idea Monday, a week after the LBP became the subject of a high-profile tirade of President Rodrigo Duterte, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), no less.
Manila Bulletin

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

Barangay execs welcome DU30 push for rescheduling of barangay polls – Dy
Barangay executives from all over the country are thankful that President Rodrigo Duterte has called on Congress to enact a measure to postpone the barangay elections, saying that this would allow them to focus on serving their constituents instead of being distracted by politics.
Manila Bulletin

60-day deadline for MM mayors to clear all obstructions in public properties starts
Interior and Local Government SecretaryEduardo M. Año on Monday gave the Metro Manila mayors 60 days to clear all obstructions in public properties in their respective turfs, especially those which are being used for private purposes.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

DILG vows sanctions vs. LGU execs who fail to reclaim public roads within 60 days
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday vowed sanctions on Metro Manila mayors who will fail to clear public roads of all kinds of obstruction in 60 days as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
GMA News

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

BRP Davao del Sur joins Russian Navy Day celebrations
For the first time in its history, a Filipino warship, the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), participated in the Russian Navy Day celebrations in Vladisvostok, Russia on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

United States Army first corps Commander pays courtesy call to CGPA
United States Army 1st Corps Commander, Lt. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, pays an official courtesy call to Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto here today, July 29. The visit served as a venue to discuss future US-proposed exercises and trainings between the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Philippine Army (PA) forces.
Kalinaw News

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

PSE index seen testing 9,100 level next year
LOCAL brokerage COL Financial Group, Inc. sees the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) testing the 9,100 level in 2020, banking on the double-digit growth of index firms this year.
Business World Online

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

Echiverri fends off another graft charge before Sandiganbayan
Former Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri was able to shake off another one of the graft charges that he is facing before the Sandiganbayan.
Manila Bulletin

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

BI denies entry of 2,300 aliens
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has barred the entry of 2,300 foreign nationals for the first half of 2019 as it intensified its campaign against the visit of undesirable aliens.
Manila Bulletin

West Philippine Sea

Drilon pushes Tolentino to disclose Duterte’s verbal agreement with Xi Jinping
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon on Monday pushed administration ally and neophyte Senator Francis Tolentino to disclose to the Senate President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016.
Manila Bulletin

Tolentino insists Duterte-Xi fishing deal 'valid' without knowing what it's about
Neophyte Senator Francis Tolentino on Monday, July 29, asserted the validity of the supposed fishing deal between China and the Philippines without Senate concurrence even if he does not know yet the contents of the deal.
Rappler

China's rising maritime clout
JULY 12 marked the third anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision in the case brought by the Philippines against China’s claims in the South China Sea. While the resulting ruling did not address the question of sovereignty or that of delimitation, it categorically upheld the existing scope of maritime entitlements as stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and further invalidated any argument of historic or sovereign rights — specifically referring to China’s nine-dash-line claim.
New Straits Times

LABOR

Duterte ‘surprised’ of ‘negative reactions’ over veto on SOT bill – Bello
President Rodrigo Duterte was “surprised” of the “negative” reactions over his move to veto the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Monday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOLE to draft new version of Security of Tenure bill
The Labor department has been directed by President Duterte to come up with a new version of the Security of Tenure bill that will serve the causes of both the workers and businessmen.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Workers plan protests vs SOT bill veto
President Rodrigo Duterte’s veto of the security of tenure (SOT) bill is only a temporary setback for laborers, Malacañang said on Sunday, giving assurance that his commitment to protecting workers’ rights is steadfast.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

TUCP urges Duterte to certify security of tenure bill as urgent anew
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Monday urged President Duterte to again certify the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill as urgent.
Manila Bulletin

TRANSPORTATION

MMDA eyes dry run of provincial bus ban on August 6 or 7 — exec
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking into implementing a dry run of the provincial bus ban along Edsa next week.  MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said Monday that the MMDA is considering either August 6 (Tuesday) or August 7 (Wednesday) to start the dry run.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Laguna terminal ready as Edsa bus ban rolls
As far as facilities and terminal operations are concerned, the Santa Rosa City government and the private operator of the Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal (SRIT) assure they are ready to cater to the influx of passengers and vehicles once the government fully implements the ban on provincial buses on Edsa by August.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

Duque firm bagged DOH contracts
A pharmaceutical company owned by the family of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earned millions of pesos from several government contracts from the Department of Health (DOH) for the supply of medicines in public hospitals, official documents obtained by the Inquirer and shared by Sen. Panfilo Lacson showed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duque distances self from family-owned firms’ DOH supply contracts
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said he has divested from the family-owned pharmaceutical firm which secured contracts from the Department of Health (DOH) before he assumed his present post.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News

Bong Go committee to probe Duque conflict-of-interest if ‘proven sufficiently’
The Senate committee on health, now chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte’s once most trusted aide, would be open to an investigation of conflict-of-interest allegations against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III if such allegations were “proven sufficiently.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DOH probing oversupply of medicines —Duque
The Department of Health (DOH) has launched an investigation into the oversupply of medicines that was reported by the Commission on Audit (COA), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.
GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duque: Lack of warehouses led to delayed distribution of near expiring meds
The lack of warehouses specialized for storing drugs and medicines contributed to the delayed distribution of medications and commodities procured by the government, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lacson hits Duque in privilege speech for alleged payment scam, conflict of interest
The Senate leadership Monday referred to its two committees the privilege speech of Senator Panfilo M. Lacson alleged multi-billion-peso medical payment scams at the PhilHealth and a questionable medical supply contracts between the Duque family and the Department of Health (DOH) headed by DOH Secretary Francisco Duque.
Manila Bulletin

PhilHealth assessing impact of PCSO games suspension to UHC funding
Amid the sudden order of the President to ban all gaming schemes of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is closely looking into its impact on the implementation of the Universal Health Care.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Duterte names DOH Duque’s brother as Philippine Coconut Authority chief
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the brother of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as the administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), INQUIRER.net has learned. Gonzalo Duque took his oath as PCA chief before Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler, ABS-CBN News

EDUCATION

DOH, DepEd to study class suspensions amid nat’l dengue alert
The Department of Health (DOH) would still have to study alongside the Department of Education (DepEd) the possibility of suspending classes in areas most affected by dengue.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DepEd gives assaurance that school health programs are in-place
The Department of Education (DepEd) assured that it continues to carry out initiatives that focus on data gathering and monitoring of affected learners following the national dengue alert declared by the Department of Health (DOH).
Manila Bulletin

National Language Month celebration to highlight Philippines’ indigenous languages
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) Chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario formally opened on Monday the celebration of “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” (National Language Month) this coming August.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Big oil firms back fuel marking, citing need to curb smuggling
THE Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP) said its members, which include the country’s biggest oil companies, support the government’s fuel marking program as a means of curbing smuggling. “As early as last year, our members have been working closely with the Department of Finance (DoF) to ensure the program’s proper and effective implementation. We support the government’s efforts to curb smuggling which continues to undermine the industry and the government in general,” PIP said in a statement Monday.
Business World Online, Business Mirror

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

PH emerging as world's 'Study English' powerhouse: DOT exec
A high-ranking official of the Department of Tourism on Monday said the Philippines is gaining ground in education tourism and becoming a “Study English” destination of nationals from different countries of the world.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

NegOcc now has 15 DOT-accredited farm tourism sites
The provincial government-run Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFOTEC) in Bago City is the latest and the 15th farm tourism site in Negros Occidental accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas.
Philippine News Agency

DOT allots P600 million to develop, place ads targeting ‘opportunity markets’
ADVERTISING company DDB Philippines has been shortlisted as consultant for the crafting of advertising materials targeting opportunity and emerging 
markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Business Mirror

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Data breach hits Sephora, Philippine customers affected
Beauty retailer Sephora has been hit by a data breach, the company disclosed via an email it sent out to online customers on Monday, July 29. The breach affects some customers who have used the company's online services in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. It was discovered "over the last two weeks."
Rappler

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR