Massacre or Encounter? Surigao Bishop to join probe team on killing of 3 Lumads, including 12-year old girl
Bishop Raul Dael of the Diocese of Tandag in Surigao del Sur will join a provincial investigation team on Friday to look into the killing of three Lumad farmers, including a 12-year old girl in what the military claimed was an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) but what human rights groups decried as a massacre.
MindaNews | GMA News
Rights groups slam AFP action in Surigao del Sur, seek int’l bodies intervention
Several pro-human rights groups have condemned the alleged latest military action in Surigao del Sur that reportedly killed civilians caught up in an anti-insurgency campaign, stressing the need for international awareness and intervention for such incidents.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Surigao Clashes Shed Light on NPA’s Illegal Recruitment of Child Soldiers
The series of skirmishes between government forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Lianga, Surigao del Sur this week only exposed the NPA’s long practice of arming minors to join the armed struggle.
Kalinaw News
Latest Lianga massacre was 25th under Duterte, Karapatan reports
The deaths of three Lumad-Manobo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur last Tuesday, June 15, is the 25th massacre of civilians in the Rodrigo Duterte government’s counter-insurgency campaign, a human rights group reported.
Kodao Productons
Massacre victims possibly raped, tortured
Twelve year old Angel Rivas and her 21-year old lesbian sister Lenie may have been raped and tortured by the soldiers who killed them last Tuesday, June 15, an indigenous people’s advocacy group said.
Kodao Productons
General says soldiers didn't see child in Surigao del Sur encounter
Thick jungle foliage prevented soldiers from seeing there was a minor among suspected communist rebels they fought with in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, an Army general said on Thursday, June 17.
Rappler
NPA rebels view IPs as ‘worthless’: Badoy
Communist rebels view indigenous peoples (IPs) as “expendable” and “worthless”, a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson said Thursday.
Philippine News Agency
Peace talks
[Opinion] Peace talks with CPP-NPA doomed
WITH the term of President Rodrigo Duterte nearing its end and the government having declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) a terrorist organization, I doubt whether there could still be a chance for truly meaningful peace negotiations between the government of the Philippines (GRP) and the CPP-NPA to be restarted.
Manila Times
Legal battle up vs. CPP-NPA
The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict is stepping up its legal battle against communist rebels in Western Visayas, Army regional spokesman, Maj. Cenon Pancito II, said.
Visayan Daily Star
Incidents/Operations
NPA rebel facing murder raps nabbed in Sorsogon
Police arrested a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel facing murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges in Sitio Camagong, Barangay San Ramon in Donsol, Sorsogon on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency
Recent encounter forced two NPA rebels to surrender; 5 high-powered firearms seized
Two rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered and revealed arms cache to the joint forces of the 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion (58IB) and the 1001st MC, RMFB at Brgy Dampil, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental, June 14, 2021.
Kalinaw News
3 NPA rebels killed, 1 minor rescued in Caraga clashes
THREE New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed and a minor was rescued in two separate clashes with government troops in the boundary of Barangay Diatagon, Lianga in Surigao del Sur, and Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur.
Sunstar Cagayan de Oro | Kalinaw News
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MARAWI
DepEd continues Marawi school construction, student support
THE Department of Education (DepEd) continues its efforts in rebuilding schools and providing support programs for learners and teachers in Marawi City, four years after the armed conflict destroyed their homes.
Manila Times
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
Arab experts discuss media handling of extremism and terrorist acts
Representatives from a variety of media sectors met on Thursday to draft a code of conduct for the media’s handling of terrorist incidents and to formulate a strategy for the reporting of issues related to extremism and terrorism.
Arab News
In China's new Xinjiang: patriotic tourism, riot police and minders
As visitors to China’s Xinjiang enjoyed new theme park-style tourist centres showcasing the region’s Muslim Uyghur culture on a recent national holiday, signs of heavy security and state surveillance were never far away.
Euro News
Iraq's extremists are formidable, but they cannot undo its history
“A person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions”. That is the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition of an iconoclast. Its Greek root is “eikonoklastes” – literally meaning “image destroyer”. Generally, iconoclasts are often those who are committed to destroying religious imagery in whatever shape it comes, be it statues, stained glass or paintings. Some attack any personification of an idea they reject.
The National News
Foreign Disinformation Feeds US Domestic Terrorism, Official Warns
Newly unveiled efforts to combat a growing domestic terrorism threat in the United States will have to find a way to overcome a major obstacle: carefully crafted campaigns by foreign countries and terrorist groups to incite violence.
Voice of America News
Protecting Elections from Disinformation Threats and Domestic Extremists
Over the past year, we have seen all too clearly the harm that purposefully false information, or disinformation, can cause. During the course of the 2020 presidential elections, we witnessed that coordinated narratives and conspiracy theories impact the campaign trail, contribute to voter suppression and election day disruption, and eventually lead to a breakdown of public trust in the electoral system. The final result: One poll from December suggested that just half of Americans had confidence that the 2020 presidential election was fair.
Government Technology
For the first time, Australia brands an extreme right-wing group as a terrorist organisation
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has approved regulations listing the antisemitic far-right Sonnenkrieg Division as a terrorist organisation.
J- Wire
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BARMM
BARMM chair asks Congress to settle term extension using Bangsamoro Organic Law
Discussions about extending the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) should be based solely on the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which established the autonomous region, a ranking official said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
BARMM leaders fail to reach consensus on move to postpone regional elections
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leaders have failed to reach a consensus on a proposal to postpone elections in the special administrative region for three years, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Thursday, June 17.
Rappler
Rody leaves BARMM polls to local leaders
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Muslim political leaders to meet as a council and resolve the issue on proposals to postpone the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until 2025, said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Manila Standard
‘Congress to extend Bangsamoro transition’
Congress is expected to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for three years, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister Ahod Ebrahim assured his constituents.
Philippine Star
---------------------------------------------------
Creation of BARMM sustainable dev’t body pushed
A lawmaker of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has proposed the establishment of the Bangsamoro Sustainable Development Board (BSDB) to systematize development policies and practices in the region.
Philippine News Agency
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
Ex-Maguindanao town mayor shot dead by cops in alleged 'gun grabbing' incident
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday law enforcers killed Thursday morning former Talitay, Maguindanao mayor Montasser Sabal hours after his arrest at the Port of Batangas.
ABS-CBN News | NDBC News
PDEA-BARMM seizes P3.4-M shabu in Maguindanao
Anti-narcotics operatives on Wednesday afternoon seized P3.4-million worth of shabu from a drug suspect who evaded arrest.
Manila Bulletin | NDBC News
Appeals court finds cop in Maguindanao massacre guilty, overturns RTC ruling
THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has found a police officer involved in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre “guilty beyond reasonable doubt as accessory” in the killing of 57 people, including 32 media practitioners and a politician’s family members.
Business World
LANAO PROVINCES
BASILAN
SULU
TAWI-TAWI
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DRUGS
[Editorial] The coming reckoning
However much the Palace and its minions may wish to dismiss and disparage outgoing International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s announcement early this week—that her “preliminary examination into the situation of the Philippines has concluded,” and that she has “requested judicial authorization (from the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber or PTC) to proceed with an investigation” into the drug-related killings under the Duterte administration—the news represented an electrifying development.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
On the proposed ICC investigation on the mass killings in the Philippines:
“Crimes against humanity are crimes against all. No one is exempt or invincible, no matter how arrogant the omnipotence, the depth of impunity for brazen acts, and the deception of the pretense at remedies. This should be a wake up call to those who are fast asleep while thousands they have silenced are still in mourning.”
Kodao Productons
Operations/ Incidents
4 killed in Nueva Ecija, Laguna drug stings
Four drug suspects were killed in drug stings in Nueva Ecija and Laguna on Wednesday.
Philippine Star
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
BOC seizes P1-B fake apparel in Makati
Customs officers seized PHP1 billion worth of counterfeit clothing items in Makati City earlier this week. In a statement on Thursday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said a composite team from its Intelligence Group-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IG-IPRD) inspected a warehouse in Barangay Magallanes on June 14.
Philippine News Agency
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
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3rd Special Forces Battalion supports National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Project for IP Communities in Surigao del Sur
As the government’s agent of peace and development, the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) ensured the peaceful conduct of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) processing orientation, which was spearheaded by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) from June 1-12, 2021. The beneficiaries of the said activity are the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICC)/Indigenous People (IP) of the Municipalities of Lianga, San Agustin, and Marihatag all of Surigao del Sur.
Kalinaw News
Rehabilitation of Road towards Peace and Development
The 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) together with the 544th Engineer Construction Battalion as agents of peace and development, together with the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur and Municipality of Lianga implemented the rehabilitation of farm to the market road from KM 7 to KM 16 of Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur to facilitate the entry of government services and transportation of farm produce from said barangay to the local markets.
Kalinaw News
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’Fewer violence vs. women cases, but more unreported’
Although the country logged fewer cases of violence against women (VAW) in 2020, an expert said Thursday the lack of mobility due to lockdown restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an underreporting of cases of abuse of women.
Manila Standard
Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
[Opinion] Media’s role even more important in the era of fake news and trolls
The working relationship between governments and journalists is, by default, adversarial. But it gets more escalated when the government masks truth with spin, peddles lies in broad daylight, and, worse, threatens journalists for merely quoting official documents or actual court cases.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Martial Law
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COVID-19
Cases
Philippines logs 6, 637 new Covid-19 cases, 1, 339, 457 in total
The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday (June 17) 6,637 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total tally to 1,339,457. The death toll rose to 23,276 with 155 more deaths recorded from the coronavirus epidemic, the DOH said.
The STar
PNP logs 143 new cases of COVID-19 among its ranks
The Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded an additional 143 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the overall number of infections among its ranks to 26,321.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Department of Health
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Regions
Luzon including NCR
Manila-procured 400K doses of Sinovac arriving soon
About 400,000 doses of Sinovac jabs purchased by the city government of Manila will arrive anytime soon.
Philippine News Agency
Visayas
Mindanao
DILG takes over Cotabato town, local officials in quarantine after COVID-16 exposure
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, June 16, took control of the municipality of Magpet in Cotabato, after its mayor contracted COVID-19 and other town officials had to go on quarantine after their exposure to coronavirus cases.
Rappler
99 Pinoy seamen from Fiji arrive in Davao, will undergo quarantine
Ninety-nine Filipino seamen repatriated from Fiji arrived at Davao International Airport on Wednesday via a chartered flight of Garuda Indonesia, Davao City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson said on Thursday.
Mindanews
Zamboanga City imposes uniform QR code,contact-tracing app
The local government has imposed a uniform quick response (QR) code and digital contact-tracing app in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city.
Mindanews
World
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
1.5-M more doses of Sinovac's Covid-19 vax arrive in PH
Additional 1.5 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine arrived here Thursday. One million of these were purchased by the government, while 500,000 were purchased by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).
Philippine News Agency
Australia to donate P505-M worth of vaccines to PH
Australia is providing 13.72 million Australian dollars (approximately PHP505 million) worth of coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines.
Philippine News Agency
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Roque denies lying about equitable vax distribution
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday denied a lawmaker’s claim that he lied about the government’s “equitable” distribution of Covid-19 vaccines across the country.
Philippine News Agency
Palace vows more funding for gov’t nurses back wages
The national government will look for sources of funding for the backpay of government nurses, Malacañang assured on Thursday.
Philippine News Agency
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Court grants firm partial tax refund
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) ruled in favor of a local manufacturer of coconut water product, partially granting its petition for tax refund.
Philippine News Agency
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Philippine National Police
EDUCATION
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTION RELATED
Mobile voter sign up app 'shareable' in over 500 pilot areas
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said its Mobile Registration Form App is now available in over 500 pilot areas of its local offices starting Thursday.
Philippine News Agency
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
OFWs can get Covid-19 jabs in Manila
All overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) leaving for their posts abroad are welcome to get Covid-19 vaccine shots in Manila even if they are non-residents.
Philippine News Agency
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Solons laud Duterte's new face shield policy
Some lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Thursday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s new policy to ease the government’s face shield requirement by allowing its use only in hospitals.
Philippine News Agency
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
West Philippine Sea
[Opinion] What will it take for Filipinos to fight for a piece of the ocean?
West Philippine Sea a metaphor for national decline in the Duterte era. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard patrol beside Chinese vessels moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea on Apr, 14: there was hardly any sign of resistance from President Duterte. © Philippine Coast Guard
Nikkei Asia
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
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