On Gen. Esperon’s wild imagination that “NPAs are tired of fighting”
I wonder why Gen. Esperon continues to serve in key positions of the defense establishment, when for around two decades now (except during the Benigno Aquino period), he has proved himself utterly incompetent having fared poorly at the helm of the government’s militarist counterinsurgency drive. He has been a continuing failure since the Arroyo regime with his annual unfulfilled predictions of “crushing the NPA.”
Communist Party of the Philippines
[Opinion] Costly, myopic approach to decades-long conflict
President Duterte, in his final State of the Nation Address last Monday, said that his administration has made “great strides” in addressing the root causes of the armed conflict with the Left revolutionary movement “by empowering our kababayans who have been used by the communists for so many decades.”
Philippine Star
Peace talks
Duterte’s last SONA bereft of Mindanao issues
He may be the first president from Mindanao, but President Rodrigo Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address was a disappointment for some Mindanao thought leaders.
Davao Today
Unfazed, church leaders push for peace talks resumption beyond 2022 polls
With the classification of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as a terrorist group by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) recently, a group of Christian church officials is determined to support and initiate moves that will revive the peace negotiations between the government and Communist guerrillas.
Davao Today
Incidents/Operations
Intel soldier killed, 2 others hurt following torching of P32-M equipment in Northern Samar
Following the reported burning of P32-million worth of heavy equipment in Las Navas, Northern Samar by alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA), a member of the 83rd Military Intelligence Company (MICO) of the Philippine Army was killed while two companions were wounded after ten suspected armed guerillas waylaid them in Baragay Dolores, Las Navas while conducting a follow-up on the torching incident.
Manila Bulletin
Suspected NPA rebel killed in Sorsogon clash
A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops early Saturday in a remote village in Bulan town in Sorsogon province, a military report said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
5 disgruntled NPA rebels yield in Agusan Norte
Five disgruntled New People’s Army (NPA) rebels voluntarily surrendered to the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) in the hope of changing their and their families' lives through the support of government programs and services.
Philippine News Agency
8 NPA rebels fall in Caraga police ops
Illegal drugs and loose firearms were confiscated and fugitives nabbed in Friday’s simultaneous police operations by the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).
Philippine News Agency
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MARAWI
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
Foreign powers amplified QAnon content to sow discord that led to Jan. 6 Capitol riots, extremism expert says
Mia Bloom, co-author of "Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon," speaks with The World's host Marco Werman about the rise of QAnon, a US-based, conspiracy-fueled movement with international reach.
The World
Extractivism and Extremism: The Tangled Resource Politics of Northeast India
Extremism laced with the history of resistance in the indigenous communities against the Indian state and private oil firms continues to make resource politics in the region highly complex.
The Wire
[Opinion] NZ still has important role in the global challenge of violent extremism
The Christchurch terrorist atrocity of March 15, 2019, highlighted some important lessons for New Zealand.
Stuff NZ
What’s behind far-right trend of using 3D tech to make guns?
There are mounting concerns over the proliferation of 3D-printed weapons amid growing arrests across Europe of people downloading and or trying to build their own guns.
Aljazeera
Treat Iraq’s Iran-aligned militias like ISIS
Iaq is beset with crises. In the scorching summer heat, the country is suffering from electricity and water shortages, longstanding challenges that have routinely resulted in violent protests as part of wider grievances around lack of services and rampant corruption.
Brookings Institute
Britain cannot remove Isis members’ citizenship without telling them, High Court rules
The government can no longer strip suspected Isis members of their British citizenship without telling them, the High Court has ruled.
The Independent
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BARMM
Group prods solons anew to pass 3-year BTA extension
As the third regular session of the 18th Congress officially started, a group urged lawmakers to pass the bill extending the transition period of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), based on the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which was clearly ratified by the overwhelming majority of the Bangsamoro people.
Philippine News Agency
IOM Philippines launches communications campaign to combat human trafficking in vulnerable communities in BARMM
JOINING the international observance of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines launched a regional communications campaign on countering human trafficking, covering the BARMM’s five provinces — Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Mindanao Times
6 MILF camps receive medical supplies from MOH
Health facilities inside the six recognized camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have received medical supplies from the Bangsamoro Government through the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a series of turnover ceremonies this week.
NDBC News
BARMM COVID update: 1 dead, 26 new cases
SA BANGSAMORO REGION, isa pang taga Maguindanao ang namatay dahil sa COVID-19 ayon sa Ministry of Health.
NDBC News
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
2 arrested, P3.4-M ‘shabu’ seized in Maguindanao
Anti-narcotics agents and soldiers here Friday arrested two suspected drug peddlers, one of whom is a village councilman, and seized suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP3.4 million.
Philippine News Agency | MindaNews
BIFF strength waning, more members to yield: PH Army
A military commander here said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is weakening as more extremists realize they were misguided and fighting a lost cause.
Philippine News Agency
Magelco continues rehab, upgrading despite pandemic, other challenges
Despite the pandemic and major challenges facing the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco), its leaders continue to push for rehabilitation, innovations and improvements.
NDBC News
LANAO PROVINCES
Historic Lanao town groomed as BARMM’s Cultural Tourism Capital
This seashore and riverside town is being groomed as the cultural tourism capital of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Manila Standard | NDBC News
BASILAN
P35.2 million smuggled cigarettes seized off Basilan
Naval forces intercepted a motor launch loaded with more than 1,000 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P35.2 million in the waters off an island in Basilan on Wednesday.
Philippine Star
SULU
Seawater desalination machines up for delivery to Sulu
Reporters and state auditors on Friday together tasted and found alright the desalinated seawater produced by new machines bound for island towns in Sulu.
Philippine Star | NDBC News | MindaNews
TAWI-TAWI
PH Marines' Battalion Landing Team 1 redeployed to Tawi-Tawi
The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has redeployed its Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 (MBLT-1) to the province of Tawi-Tawi, more than five years after the unit was deployed to fight the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu.
Philippine News Agency
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DRUGS
Operations/ Incidents
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
Outgoing military chief bids farewell to trusty weapon
When Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, retires after 34 years in service on Saturday, he will also turn over his government-issued M-653 rifle, which he used for nearly three decades.
Philippine News Agency
NoCot trader slain in gun attack
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a businessman along the national highway in Arakan, North Cotabato Friday afternoon.
NDBC News
Village councilman nabbed for illegal firearms, explosive in Albay
A barangay kagawad (councilman) was arrested for the illegal possession of a firearm and a grenade during a search of his house in Libon town in Albay province on Saturday morning.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2 accomplices of criminal gang in Albay nabbed
Police operatives arrested two male accomplices of the notorious Concepcion criminal group at separate police stings in Libon town on Saturday, a police report said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
Zambo cops, troops seize P4.7-M smuggled cigarettes
Military and police seized some PHP4.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in this city and in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the region's top cop said on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
[Opinion] No to sale of humans
HUMANS as commodities for commercial exchange, an abominable act that needs to be constantly spotlighted as a crime due to our tendency to blame victims, among other defects in our culture.
Sunstar Bacolod
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
NegOcc female cop charged for links to illegal gambling
A policewoman assigned at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) headquarters here was among the six charged before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office after they were linked to an illegal gambling operation in Hinigaran town.
Philippine News Agency
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
Investment scam sa Mlang, pinai-imbestigahan ng mayor
Hindi papayagan at hindi itotolerate ni Mlang Mayor Russel Abonado ang mga nangunanguna sa pange-enganyo ng mga tao na sumali sa mga investment scheme sa kanyang bayan.
NDBC News
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Eleazar tells cops amid ECQ in NCR: Injuring, shaming violators not part of mandate
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has reminded police officers deployed during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila that injuring and shaming those who breach health protocols is not part of their mandate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
Martial Law
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COVID-19
Cases
PH’s COVID-19 active cases now at 60,887 with 8,147 new infections
The active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 60,887 on Saturday as the Department of Health (DOH) logged 8,147 new infections.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Department of Health
DOH: Experts fear NCR COVID-19 case increase by September despite lockdown
Despite stricter quarantine protocols, active COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila are expected to increase to 18,000 to 20,000 by September, based on the projection of independent experts, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Lockdown to help prepare health care system for Covid spike: DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) said the imposition of stricter community quarantine measures would help prepare the country's health care system for a possible spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.
Philippine News Agency
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Gov’t scrambles to find funding for ECQ aid
With another round of the strictest lockdown to be imposed in Metro Manila, the government on Friday scrambled to find the money to compensate those who would temporarily lose their jobs or means of livelihood with the expected closure of some businesses.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DILG: Over 1M families in Iloilo, CDO, Gingoog to get cash aid
More than one million families in Iloilo Province, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental who are affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) will each receive up to PHP4,000 cash assistance, following the issuance of the guidelines by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Philippine News Agency
Politicking has no place in Covid-19 efforts: Duque
The Philippines is neck-deep in its Covid-19 response that it has no time to delve into origin-tracing of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Philippine News Agency
Regions
Luzon including NCR
More vax assured for NCR during 2-week ECQ
The national government will deliver 6.5 million doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs to local government units in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus to intensify mass vaccination.
Philippine News Agency
DOH endorses house-to-house Covid-19 vaccination
The Department of Health (DOH) said house-to-house coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination is a "good strategy" to inoculate more people and to lessen the crowd in vaccination centers.
Philippine News Agency
Select domestic flights canceled amid increased NCR restrictions
With the newly imposed heightened restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR), local carriers canceled a number of their domestic flights, as the government bans non-essential travel to and from the region.
Philippine News Agency
Visayas
Mindanao
Zambo City reimposes Sunday lockdown amid Delta threat
The local task force addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has announced the reimposition of the Sunday lockdown with modifications, effective August 1, due to the persistent threat of the more transmissible Delta variant.
Philippine News Agency
3 more repatriates test positive for COVID in Davao
Three more of the repatriated passengers from Dhaka in Bangladesh and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 13 as of Friday from only 10 four days ago, an official said.
MindaNews
Seniors in North Cotabato's remote village get "single shot" vaccines
A total of 65 individual from A2 (Senior Citizens) and A3 (Adult with comorbidities) including a 92- year old woman got their Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen single shot vaccine against covid-19 today at Barangay Temporan, Magpet, Cotabato.
NDBC News
More facilities, few workers: Cagayan de Oro hospitals overheating
Cagayan de Oro’s health care system started to overheat as the number of COVID-19 cases in Northern Mindanao surged in the last half of July despite efforts to increase its hospital capacity to take in more patients, including those from places outside the city.
Rappler
World
China outbreak spreads as WHO sounds alarm on Delta
Mushrooming outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant prompted China and Australia to impose stricter Covid-19 restrictions on Saturday as the WHO urged the world to quickly contain the mutation before it turns into something deadlier and draws out the pandemic.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
UK urges pregnant women to get vaccinated given variant risks
British health authorities have urged more pregnant women to get coronavirus jabs after a national study found the Delta variant appeared to increase their risk of severe symptoms.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
UK-donated vax to arrive in PH Aug. 2: envoy
Outgoing British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said 415,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the United Kingdom are set to arrive in Manila on August 2.
Philippine News Agency
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
Observe hospital protocols in Covid-19 patient care: experts
Visiting Israeli health experts shared key methods that the Department of Health (DOH) should consider in treating Covid-19 patients.
Philippine News Agency
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
What happens to wasted COVID-19 vaccines?
As the Philippines “races against the variants” of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus, Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national pandemic response, stressed the need to “minimize wastage” of the vaccines at the local level.
Vera Files
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
[Editorial] Violence in the forest
In his final State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, President Duterte exhorted “our next leaders and our future generations [to]… fight for the integrity of our environment in a manner fiercer” than his administration has done.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
SC rules ex-mayor has no liability in coffee project
The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the dismissal of a complaint filed against a former municipal mayor as it did not want to interfere with the Ombudsman in the absence of a clear case of grave abuse of discretion.
Philippine News Agency
COA to Army: Stop ‘huge’ cash advances
The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the Philippine Army to stop the practice of granting “extremely huge” cash advances to a few officers, saying that it exposes the government funds to the “risk of loss or misappropriation.”
Philippine Star
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Hidilyn Diaz’s gifts, rewards not tax-free, Palace schools Drilon
The monetary donations and rewards given to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz are not tax-free unless donors have already paid the donor’s tax, Malacañang said on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
Completion of BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road eyed in September
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday said it is looking to finish the Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas Center Link Road Project in September.
Philippine News Agency
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
5.4M new voters register 3 months before deadline
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recorded over five million new registrants as of July 10, less than three months before signup ends.
Philippine News Agency
Election during pandemic? Israel ready to share tips
Israel is ready to share with the Philippine government its knowledge and tools for the safe conduct of the upcoming elections despite the pandemic.
Philippine News Agency
ECQ in NCR to affect voter signup activities: Comelec
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the implementation of a stricter quarantine in Metro Manila will have an effect on the ongoing voter registration activities even though it has already reached its target of 4 million new voters.
Philippine News Agency
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
405K overseas Pinoys repatriated since Feb. 2020: DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 405,769 distressed overseas Filipinos (OFs) since February 2020, an official said Friday.
Philippine News Agency
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Bayanihan 3 a must under ECQ: Speaker
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Friday called on the Senate to immediately pass the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act (Bayanihan 3) as the government is set to reimpose stricter quarantine measures in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Philippine News Agency
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
VFA back in ‘full force again’ as Duterte recalls termination
The Visiting Forces Agreement is in “full force again” as President Rodrigo Duterte recalled his earlier order to terminate the lopsided military pact between the Philippine and US government.
Bulatlat
Recall of VFA abrogation reinforces PH-US ties: solons
President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to recall the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States will be beneficial to all parties, given the current "uncertain and challenging" international political environment that is aggravated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Philippine News Agency
US addressed issues on security ties ‘with good faith’: Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday handed over the diplomatic note recalling the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) to United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III.
Philippine News Agency
West Philippine Sea
New AFP Chief wants stronger military defense posture to protect PH territory
Fortifying the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) defense posture will help the military to better defend the country’s territory from internal and external threats, including its maritime interests in the hotly-contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Manila Bulletin
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
TOURISM
New marketing plan eyes more tourists for Boracay
A new marketing plan with a “Better Than Ever” brand has been crafted for the island of Boracay as it strives to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Philippine News Agency
South Cotabato tourism bounces back
South Cotabato province’s tourism industry continued to thrive in the first six months of the year as tourist arrivals increased by nearly 300 percent from last year despite the threats posed by the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
MindaNews
At the foothills of Mt. Matutum, a strawberry park awaits tourists
As the tourism industry continued to suffer from the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Lumad (Indigenous Peoples) family in a remote village here slaughtered a pig weighing over 100 kilos and roasted it to mark the soft opening of the Moso Strawberry Agritourism Park on March 20, 2021.
MindaNews
WATER and ENERGY
Planned Mindanao hydropower projects up for review
Upcoming hydroelectric projects in Mindanao will be up for evaluation soon, in line with efforts to balance the use of fossil fuel and renewable energy power sources, according to an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
Power Philippines
Magat Dam likely to resume spilling ops in August
Magat Dam in Luzon may resume spilling operations this August as a precaution against structural damage due to a possible rise in its water to the spilling or normal high level.
Philippine News Agency
Weekend rain may raise downstream Tullahan River water
Expected rain this weekend may easily raise the water level at the downstream portion of the Tullahan River, a major Metro Manila waterway.
Philippine News Agency
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