Why the Anti-Subversion Law was repealed
The Anti-Subversion Act or Republic Act 1700 was enacted in 1957 during the presidency of Carlos Garcia, with aim to counter the Hukbalahap movement. Section 4 of the repealed law punished “whoever knowingly, wilfully and by overt acts affiliates himself with, becomes or remains a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and/or its successor or any subversive association.”
Philippine Star

Año wants communism outlawed in PH
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said communism should be outlawed in the Philippines, as he doubled down on his rhetoric against leftist groups. Año said declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its “front organizations” as subversive groups would fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal of ending the communist insurgency within his term.
ABS-CBN News

Palace: Restoration of Anti-Subversion Law needs study
Malacañang said Tuesday the proposal of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to revive the Anti-Subversion Law needed study. Año has said the Anti-Subversion Law, which was repealed in 1992, should be restored as intelligence reports indicated that some 500 to 1,000 youths are being indocrinated every year by the communist rebels.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star

Albayalde backs Año’s suggestion to criminalize subversion
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday expressed support for Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año's suggestion to criminalize subversion.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Criminalize subversion? Guevarra says amending Human Security Act enough
Responding to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año's suggestion to once again criminalize subversion, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said he believes amending and strengthening the Philippines' anti-terrorism law will suffice.
GMA News, Business Mirror

Solons: Año’s proposal to revive Anti-Subversion Law ‘a throwback to Marcosian dictatorship’
Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Carlos Zarate and Eufemia Cullamat on Tuesday slammed the proposal of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to revive a law that made subversion a criminal offense.
GMA News

3 senators oppose reviving anti-subversion law
At least three senators have expressed opposition to the suggestion of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to criminalize subversion amid reports that minors are allegedly being recruited by leftist organizations.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Poe: Law shouldn’t be used to curtail freedoms
A law should not be used to weaken the mechanisms of democracy. This was what Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday amid a proposal to put back a law criminalizing subversion.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Subversion
If President Duterte asks his congressional super majority, the anti-subversion law could be revived. It’s useful to bear in mind, however, that the communist insurgency was at its strongest when subversion was still a criminal offense, under an authoritarian government. Martial law was declared by Ferdinand Marcos ostensibly to quell the communist rebellion.
Philippine Star

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Last nail to the coffin
Tribal chieftains from the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Council of Elders and Leaders and from the Mindanao Indigenous People’s Youth Organizations paid a courtesy call at The Philippine Star editorial office in Port Area, Manila last Monday. They were accompanied by a staff member each of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Philippine Star

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2 former NPA members to attend Senate hearing on ‘missing students’
Two former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) are set to attend Wednesday's Senate hearing on the missing students allegedly recruited by leftist organizations.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Albayalde denies 'brainwashing' parents of missing students
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday dismissed the accusation of youth activist leaders that security forces had brainwashed the parents of the missing students who supposedly joined left-leaning groups.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace skeptical school police presence would prevent leftist recruitment
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was skeptical that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa's proposal for police and military presence in schools would actually prevent the recruitment of students by leftist groups.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News Agency

Youth solon calls on Bato to stop spreading misinformation, hysteria
Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago on Tuesday called on Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stop red-tagging and fear-mongering, and to stop spreading misinformation and hysteria.
GMA News

Youth activists tell Bato: we learn to tell right from wrong
Former police chief and now Senator Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa proposes to deploy police into universities and campuses following complaints from parents that their children have been recruited to activist groups and have not returned home.
Davao Today

ACT slams 'Bato' for acting on what they call as 'exploitation' of parents' emotional difficulties
A federation of teachers on Tuesday slammed Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for “exploiting” the emotional difficulties of some parents who do not approve of their children’s activism to impose military and police presence in schools.
Manila Bulletin

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Army confident to end insurgency in Eastern Visayas by 2022
The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division is upbeat on ending insurgency in Samar and Leyte provinces by 2022 after the national government identified the region as one of the priority areas in its drive to wipe out the New People’s Army (NPA).
Philippine News Agency

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Kidapaweños to NPA: You are no longer welcome here
Farmers and local officials of Kidapawan City’s seven far-flung barangays on Monday declared the New People's Army (NPA) persona non-grata during a protest rally on Monday. The protesters denounced the NPA's alleged atrocities, as well as the communist rebels' "revolutionary tax" that often targets farmers in rural areas.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News

19 villagers abandon NPA cause in Nueva Ecija
Nineteen residents of Barangay Antipolo and its adjacent villages in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija have renounced their support to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Philippine News Agency

‘Child soldier,’ 2 other rebels yield to Army in Bukidnon
A child soldier of the New People's Army (NPA) and two other communist guerillas surrendered in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon over the weekend, the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) said Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency, Sunstar Cagayan de Oro

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations    

Army foils another 'terrorist attack' in NegOr
Army soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion based in Negros Oriental have foiled an attempt allegedly by the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), to stage another attack in Guihulngan City over the weekend.
Philippine News Agency

Troops recover high-powered guns; foil NPA attacks in SoCot
Government troops recovered on Sunday a light machine gun and ammunition reportedly stashed by New People’s Army rebels (NPA) at a portion of T’boli town in South Cotabato that was allegedly intended for planned attacks on several companies in the area.
Philippine News Agency, Mindanews, The Mindanao Times

Nat’l intel agency sees more suicide bombings happening in PHL
More suicide bombings may take place in the Philippines, the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency has said.
GMA News

BI on alert for movements of alleged terrorists — Guevarra
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is on the alert for movements of persons who had been floated as potential terrorists from an Asian country, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.
GMA News

NBI clears couple in alleged suicide bomb plot
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has cleared three persons who had been tagged in an alleged terror plot. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said the agency is also considering the filing complaints against the person who implicated them but later refused to cooperate with authorities.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

NBI to probe Pinoy father on Sri Lankan terror cell report
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to proceed with its independent investigation of reports on a terror cell operating in Northern Luzon, even as the NBI already downplayed the reports.
Philippine News Agency, Manila Bulletin, Rappler

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Alarm sounded on possible escalation of terror attacks
Philippine security forces are fearing a possible “chilling escalation in tactics, damage and barbarity” of  terrorists after the reported collapse of the ISIS / Daesh in Syria and Iraq.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DND wants terror suspects detained for 60 days for case build-up
The Department of National Defense (DND) is proposing a longer detention period for suspected terrorists to allow law enforcers “more time to develop” cases against them.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Philippine Star

Lacson: Expect ‘rough sailing’ in bid to prolong jail period of terror suspects
Amending the anti-terror law might face rough sailing in  the Senate if the period of detention for suspected terrorists would be extended  to 60 days or two months, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dela Rosa regrets freeing foreign terror suspect due to anti-terror law
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa recalled making a foreign terrorist suspect sing the Philippine national anthem, then freed him, but the suspect later ended cutting off peoples’ heads.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MARAWI

Mindanao lawmakers file Marawi victims compensation bill
Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan have filed a bill seeking to compensate victims of the five-month Marawi siege over two years ago, citing the residents’ “deplorable state” amid the government’s rehabilitation efforts.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Tempo

Marawi farmers, fisherfolks receive livelihood support
Farmers and fisherfolks here received livelihood support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Agrarian Reform – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM) through the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).
Bangon Marawi

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD     

The Religious Hunger of the Radical Right
Domestic right-wing terrorists, like the man accused of the shooting last weekend in El Paso, are not so different from their radical Islamist counterparts across the globe — and not only in their tactics for spreading terror or in their internet-based recruiting.
The New York Times

China, Kyrgyzstan conclude joint counter-terrorism drill
The joint drill "Cooperation-2019," held by the Chinese People's Armed Police Force (PAP) and the National Guard of Kyrgyzstan, concluded Tuesday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Xinhua

Terrorists trying to recruit foreign students in Russia, anti-terror agency says
The chairman of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee highlighted the importance of carrying out more measures on preventing the spread of radical sentiment among migrants.
Russian News Agency (TASS)

Racially-Motivated Violence in the United States: What We Call It and Why It Matters
There are many ways in which to describe violence motivated by hate towards others, but why is such language particularly important to consider in the wake of several attacks and attempted attacks motivated by white-nationalist sentiments? The use of terms like hate crime and terrorism have distinct connotations; these have implications for perceptions of violence, political attitudes, and broader political context in which we understand political violence.
Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

State of the Muslim world
Haj, the most important annual gathering of the world’s over 1 billion Muslims, is of course a religious obligation. But beyond the acts of worship, this event where Muslims gather regardless of their sect, national origin and political persuasion should be used to address the many critical problems that today confront the world of Islam.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BARMM

Palace peace adviser says setting up of BARMM still on track
The Philippine government expressed confidence that the setting up of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is still on track. Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez told ANC's "Beyond Politics" government officials are working hand in hand with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in drafting priority legislation.
ABS-CBN News

Murad asks fellow BARMM execs: Like Ibrahim, make sacrifices
Just as the Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail to prove his loyalty to God, leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) must also be ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their people, Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim said during Eid al-Adha celebration on Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

NORTH COTABATO

LANAO PROVINCES

Lanao mayor believes in values-based leadership
Johar Dimaporo Disomimba, the new mayor of Tamparan, a fifth-class municipality in Lanao del Sur, aims to strengthen the values of his constituents for an orderly society.
Manila Standard

Marawi City launches “Limpiyo A Marawi”
The City government of Marawi has recently launched a cleanliness campaign dubbed “Limpiyo A Marawi” in a simultaneous cleanup drive in all 72 barangays including the transitory shelters. This initiative is geared towards dengue prevention and control, and in support of the Solid Waste Management program of the local government.
Bangon Marawi

BASILAN

SULU 

2-year old girl among 3 killed in ambush by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
A two-year old girl was killed along with a soldier and a paramilitary member in an ambush by suspected Abu Sayyaf in Talipao, Sulu Monday morning, the Western Mindanao Command’s Public Information Office reported.
Mindanews, Aljazeera, Philippine Star, Business World Online, The Manila Times

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Group urges DOJ to drop sedition raps vs Robredo, et al
Human rights alliance Karapatan has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to junk the sedition case filed against Vice President Leni Robredo and several opposition lawmakers and Church leaders, saying the complaint is yet another attempt by the Duterte administration to silence its critics.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Substance found off N. Samar sea confirmed as shabu
Authorities confirmed on Monday that the five large packs fished out of the waters off Biri, Northern Samar recently contain shabu. The five packs weighing 9.71 kilograms were discovered by a fisherman and a teenager in the shoreline of Pio del Pilar village of the island town on August 10.
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

P8 million ‘shabu’ seized from Cebu drug ring’s member
At least P8 million worth of drugs were confiscated from  a suspected member of a big-time drug ring in  a buy-and-bust operation in Unit 2 Villa Remedios, Oppra, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, at around 6 p.m. today, August 13, 2019.
Cebu Daily News

P1.24-M marijuana seized in NegOcc town
Some PHP1.238 million worth of marijuana leaves and plants were seized by policemen in two separate operations in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental on Sunday afternoon. Police report on Monday showed the buy-bust in Purok Saging, Barangay Igmaya-an around 5:15 p.m. led to the arrest of Jonas Alvios, 50.
Philippine News Agency

3 nabbed, P442-K shabu seized in Zambo Peninsula
Authorities seized some PHP442,000 worth of suspected shabu and nabbed three people in separate anti-drug operations in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), an official said Tuesday. 
Philippine News Agency

‘Drug peddler’ killed after exchanging gunfire with Ecija cops
A suspected drug peddler was killed while his companion managed to escape while exchanging gunfire with anti-narcotics operatives here on Sunday evening.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Drug suspect slain in Zambales buy-bust
Police here killed a suspected drug pusher during a buy-bust operation on Sunday. Investigators said Christian Abenoja, a resident of nearby San Antonio town, resisted arrest and fired at a police undercover agent who managed to buy a sachet of “shabu” (crystal meth) from the suspect.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAP FOR RANSOM

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

2 investment ‘scams’ victimize 6 in Cebu City
Two more “investment scams” have duped a group of people in Cebu, amassing thousands in cash from its supposed victims. At least six persons went to the Police’s Anti Cybercrime Group in Central Visayas on Monday and complained about two online-based firms.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH agencies ink pact vs. women, kids exploitation in tourism
Several government agencies on Tuesday committed to coordinate and work on policies to address the exploitation of women and children in the Philippines' tourism industry.
Philippine News Agency

Press Freedom/ Freedom of Expression

Medialdea files 3rd libel complaint vs. Ramon Tulfo
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday filed his third libel complaint against columnist and special envoy for public diplomacy to China Ramon Tulfo.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

IP group slams Ifugao journalist attack
IN CELEBRATION of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (TFIP) condemned the attack on journalist Brandon Lee.
Sunstar Baguio

Martial Law 

Lacson describes Mindanao martial law ‘toothless:’ ‘Panakot lang’
Authorities are just fooling terrorists with the continued  imposition of “toothless” martial law in Mindanao, Senator Panfilo Lacson said in jest on Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, CNN Philippines 

Año open to lifting martial law in Mindanao areas
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday that he was open to the lifting of martial law in some sections of Mindanao though he claimed that there was clamor among local officials that martial rule stay in place.
GMA News

Duterte will not object to De Lima's request for furlough, says Senator Bong Go
President Rodrigo Duterte will not object to the petition for furlough filed by Sen. Leila de Lima asking the court to allow her to see her ailing mother, according to Sen. Bong Go as reported by GMA News' Joseph Morong.
GMA News

Palace supports ban on Chinese survey ships
Malacañang on Tuesday backed the decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ban the marine survey ships of China.
GMA News

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Duterte signs law giving 100% of service charge in hotels, restos to workers
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law mandating that 100% of service charges collected in restaurants and hotels be distributed among their employees. Duterte signed Republic Act 11360 on August 7.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte signs law creating Philippine Space Agency
The Philippines will now have its own space agency. This is after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11363 or the Philippine Space Act on August 8 which will establish the Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy which will create the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
Philippine Daily Inquirer, CNN Philippines, GMA News

Duterte signs Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that would ensure continuous and uninterrupted transmission and distribution of electricity in the country.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte signs law to lower cost of electricity
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that would reduce the cost of electricity in the country. Duterte signed Republic Act 11371, or the “Murang Kuryente Act,” on August 8. But a copy of the new law was shared with the media only on Tuesday, August 13.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte declares Nov 17 Nat'l Students’ Day to honor student activism
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11369 declaring November 17 of every year as National Students’ Day. National Students’ Day, which would coincide with International Students' Day, would be an opportunity to recognize the “invaluable contribution of student activism to Philippine democracy" and for "initiating efforts to foster leadership among Filipino students.”
GMA News

Duterte signs law imposing community service on convicts of minor offenses
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law imposing the penalty of having to render community service on convicts of minor offenses instead of sentencing them to a jail term. Duterte signed Republic Act 11362 on August 8.
GMA News

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DILG's Año says he refused gifts from local officials
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said that he does not accept gifts with monetary values from local government officials and that he told the police officers to do the same.
GMA News

DILG chief warns cops: Accepting gifts as form of favors, bribes a violation of law, oath of service
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday warned policemen that they may be held liable if they receive gifts of monetary value from people they serve in line with their duties.
GMA News

Albayalde admits receiving gifts but only food
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde admitted that he also received gifts but only food during police events.
GMA News

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

ELECTION RELATED

Ex-poll chair Brillantes wants Duterte Youth registration canceled
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes on Tuesday said that he would seek the cancellation of the Duterte Youth party-list’s registration as it continues to make a mockery of election laws and also tarnishes the name of the President.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

May 2019 Elections: Fraud-free? Fault-free? A billion-peso blunder: 6 in 10 machines to verify voters conked out, not used at all
THE MAY 2019 elections have been declared to be fraud-free by both election officials and watchdogs, but by all indications, its conduct and process were not entirely fault-free.
Mindanews

SIDEBAR: Watchdogs monitor more bad machines
A DISASTROUS mess. That, in a nutshell, is the picture painted by field reports obtained by PCIJ from poll watchdogs National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) regarding the pilot testing of the Voter Registration Verification Machines (VRVMs) during the May 13, 2019 elections.
Mindanews

DISASTER

MINDANAO

Davao-Taiwan direct flights pushed
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for direct flights between Davao City and Taiwan, DOT-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan said. Tan told reporters that DOT-Davao had recently welcomed eight Taiwanese travel agents and a representative from Singapore’s Tiger Airways, who visited  to explore the popular tourist spots of the city.
Mindanews

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

‘House to prioritize economic Cha-cha’
The House of Representatives will most likely prioritize changes in the economic provisions of the Constitution over proposed amendments that affect the nation’s political system.
Philippine Star

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Poe calls out MMDA chair Lim for skipping Senate hearing on traffic woes
Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday questioned the absence of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Danilo Lim at the Senate hearing on the provincial bus ban and other transportation problems affecting the flow of traffic on EDSA.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bong Go prefers face-to-face debate with De Lima
Neophyte Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he is ready to debate with opposition Senator Leila de Lima but he wants to do it in person. On Tuesday, Go playfully answered queries of reporters about his stand on a resolution, allowing De Lima to participate in plenary debates through video conference.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

House bill presumes driver involved in accident not initially liable
A lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to improve the road safety laws of the country by presuming that a driver or motorist is not initially liable in an accident he or she is involved in.
GMA News

Solons want Congress to regulate ATM transaction fees
Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite are set to refile a bill regulating fees of automated teller machine (ATM) transactions. The lawmakers said this Tuesday, as the moratorium imposed on increasing ATM fees by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been lifted.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House panel OKs bill on liquor tax hike
The House ways and means committee approved Tuesday a bill increasing the excise tax rates on alcohol products despite facing an objection during the first deliberation of the panel.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUDGET, FINANCE and TAXATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Actors in reserve force yet to finish training —Army
Showbiz personalities who have been accepted into the reserve force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are not yet done with their training.
GMA News

EDITORIAL - Firefighting capability
Before the government arms firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist in the maintenance of peace and order, they should first be given sufficient equipment and manpower to carry out their principal mission.
Philippine Star

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Slowest growth in 4 years
The impressive economic growth trajectory of the Philippine economy looks headed for some setback this year for reasons that are both domestic and external.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

AUDIT, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

BOC launches text hotline 8484 for reporting irregularities, corrupt officials
The Bureau of Customs' Intelligence Group has launched a text hotline to which the public may report corrupt practices involving its officials and employees.
GMA News

Sandiganbayan acquits ex-DA undersecretary of perjury
The Sandiganbayan has acquitted a former Department of Agriculture undersecretary in a perjury case over her alleged overvaluation of her Quezon City house and lot in her asset declarations in 2005 and 2006.
GMA News

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Checklist for Xi
“Ghosting” is apparently the new trick the intrusive Chinese warships have been resorting to as they continue to trespass in the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Palace urges Filipinos to avoid traveling to Hong Kong
Malacañang on Tuesday advised Filipinos to put off Hong Kong travel plans due to the growing anti-government protests in the special administrative region that even led to an abrupt closure of its busy airport.
GMA News

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

Labor groups hit DOLE version of anti-endo bill: It's a step backward in lawmaking
Labor groups on Tuesday criticized the initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to create its own version of the anti-endo bill, calling it a step backward in lawmaking.
GMA News

Labor groups, Hontiveros urge gov’t to pass ‘strongest’ anti-endo bill
A coalition of labor groups and Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the government to pass “the strongest version of the anti-endo bill after President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed a “watered-down” measure last month.
GMA News

Locsin says gov’t must bring killer of Chinese national to justice
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippine government must act swiftly to bring to justice those behind the recent death of a Chinese national in Las Piñas City as he raised the possibility of reprisal against Filipino workers in China.
GMA News

TRANSPORTATION

Palace to riding public: Give MMDA a chance to solve EDSA traffic woes
Malacañang on Tuesday appealed to the riding public to give the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) a chance amid criticism of the agency’s policies to address traffic congestion in the capital region.
GMA News, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MMDA asked to allow provincial buses on EDSA during non-peak hours
House Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte on Tuesday asked the Metropolitan Manila Development  Authority to allow provincial buses to enter EDSA during non-peak hours.
GMA News

ARTA orders LTFRB to issue licenses to TNVS, revise Citizen’s charter
Transport network vehicles service (TNVS) applicants may soon receive their licenses to operate from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Amid ‘chaotic situation,’ Drilon says it’s about time’ to review MMDA powers
Amid what he called a “chaotic situation,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon proposed that the mandate of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in managing traffic on Edsa be reviewed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sotto: To ease traffic in MM, relocate gov’t offices to provinces
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday suggested transferring all government offices to provinces to decongest the traffic in Metro Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HEALTH 

Dengue cases now over 160,000 with more than 720 deaths — DOH
The number of recorded dengue cases in the country has climbed to over 160,000 with more than 700 deaths, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed Tuesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dengue deaths in PH highest in Asia – Duque
THE Philippines has the highest death rate from dengue among countries in Southeast Asia, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Tuesday as it warned that the number of victims of the mosquito-borne disease had grown exponentially in the past few weeks.
The Manila Times

Mounting PhilHealth dues hurting hospitals, says exec demanding P204M
Unpaid obligations of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) have financially weakened many private hospitals in the country, including Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC), according to Dr. James Dy, president of the private hospital.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

299 irrigation projects worth over P20B delayed — COA
The Commission on Audit has flagged 299 irrigation contracts worth P20.70 billion that have been delayed for up to 2,287 calendar days due to poor performance of contractors and other factors.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Smart regulations to save agriculture
Agriculture has long been the backbone of civilizations, nations, and communes. Empires are built on the foundations of food security and access to livestock, poultry, and grains. Modern society would interpret this as the common foundation of developing nations whose industries rose from the shadows of farmers cultivating crops and livestock by developing the necessary value chains that fuel communities.
Business World Online

EDUCATION

DepEd welcomes possible probe into alleged anomalies
The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the possible inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the agency following the Commission on Audit’s (COA) report showing P113-million worth of unused books were stuck in warehouses.
GMA News

ENERGY

POVERTY

Political patronage through 4Ps
That the World Bank has approved a fresh $300-million loan to finance 4Ps until 2022 (Business, 6/29/19) is not something to be happy about. If only such a huge amount of money is put to better use. It is high time the current administration reviewed not only the policies of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), but also the rationale behind it.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Water crisis

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR