Robredo to resume peace talks with NDF if elected President but…
For Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo, the only road to peace with the communist rebels is to resume negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF) which represents the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in the peace talks.
MindaNews

Candidates warned on rebels' ‘fees'
INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday warned candidates in the 2022 national and local elections not to pay extortion money or the so-called permit to campaign fees to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) or they may get disqualified.
Manila Times

16 rebels yield in Mindanao
The Philippine military said 16 militants and communist fighters surrendered in Mindanao, a hotbed of insurgency in the southern region.
Manila Times

5 NPA rebels surrender with guns
Five members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered together with three high-powered firearms in Ilagan City and Nueva Vizcaya on October 14 and 15, respectively, the military said Saturday.
Philippine News Agency

Peace talks

Incidents/Operations

Abu Sayyaf member involved in Samal Island kidnapping nabbed in Zambo
An Abu Sayyaf member tagged in the Samal Island kidnapping and murder of its two western captives, was arrested by joint security forces Friday afternoon in a village here, police said.
Philippine Star

MARAWI 

Duterte vows gov’t doing its best to ‘expedite’ Marawi rehab
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said his administration is “doing its best” to fast track the completion of the Marawi rehabilitation as the country marked the fourth year of the city’s liberation against Islamic-state linked militants.
Philippine Daily Inquirer | Philippine Star | ABS-CBN News

Dela Rosa vows ‘enhanced’ Marawi compensation scheme if elected president
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has vowed to ensure passage of the Marawi Compensation Bill if elected president in 2022.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

JICA completes P700 million road rehab in Marawi
The Japanese government has completed the third phase of a road network project in the former conflict areas of Marawi which is expected to contribute to the city’s economic growth.
Philippine Star

Healing is true liberation
A crucial aspect of Marawi’s rehabilitation and recovery is rebuilding trust, relationships, and community alongside addressing emerging and enduring drivers of violence. Without an approach to address these, the damage, destruction, and human costs of the Marawi siege on communities could lead to a morphing or reversal of roles where victims and their families exact revenge, further enabling cycles of violence to continue and worsen. The collective trauma from the Marawi war runs deep and is exacerbated by an excruciatingly slow rehabilitation process.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD

India fears Taliban fallout in Kashmir
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out his Taliban worries to world leaders this week, Indian forces staged raids and battled Kashmir militants who he fears could be emboldened by the Islamists’ victory in Afghanistan.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY 

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

Road project traversing former Abu Sayyaf lair almost done
Peace is now felt in all four corners of the once dangerous Sampinit Complex in Basilan as a result of a road project straddling through its forests where the Abu Sayyaf once ran a ruthless shadow government.
Philippine Star

SULU

TAWI-TAWI 

Malaysian slain in Tawi-Tawi drug sting
A Malaysian man and his alleged Filipino cohort were killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi yesterday.
Philippine Star

Operations/ Incidents

P5 million drugs seized in Pasay, Makati, Navotas
At least P5 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated during separate stings in Pasay, Makati and Navotas on Friday night.
Philippine Star

Man on drugs holds mother hostage in Pasig
A 42-year-old man allegedly high on illegal drugs was apprehended after he held hostage his mother in Pasig City on Friday.
Philippine Star

Recovery and Rehabilitation

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS  

Global tobacco smugglers cash in on pandemic – JTI
Tobacco smugglers all over the world have taken advantage of the COVID pandemic to push cheap and inferior products to consumers suffering from diminished income.
Philippine Star

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

COVID-19

Human rights an election issue – CHR exec
With major social issues affecting the most basic rights of individuals, Filipino voters must support candidates with a clear human rights agenda in the upcoming elections, an official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
Philippine Star

Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression

Martial Law 

COVID-19

Cases

PH logs around 7,000 COVID-19 infections in 4th straight day
The country has reported 7,772 COVID-19 cases on Saturday to bring the caseload to 2,713,509, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

156 new COVID-related deaths bring number of fatalities to 40,580
There were 156 COVID-19 deaths in the country recorded on Saturday, bringing the total tally to 40,580, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Department of Health

DOH: 1st day of teen inoculations successful
The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said the first day of pediatric vaccinations was successful, a day after the government began its rollout of pediatric inoculations among children with comorbidities on Friday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IATF/NTF COVID-19

Regions

Luzon including NCR

NCR cops told: Strictly enforce health protocols
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered police officers in the National Capital Region to strictly implement minimum public health protocols as he warned of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases after the NCR shifted to the less stringent Alert Level 3.
Philippine Star

'Puno pa rin kami': Health workers worry as Metro Manila placed under Alert Level 3
The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Sunday, Oct. 17 said health workers were still not able to breath from the number of COVID-19 infections in the country.
Manila Bulletin

Visayas

Mindanao

World 

Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector 

GT Capital donates vaccines to Makati
GT Capital Holdings Inc., in partnership with Metrobank Foundation Inc., donated 3,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the city government of Makati last Sept. 30.
Philippine Star

Incidents and Violations

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Duterte vows support for PDP-LABAN bets nationwide; calls for integrity of 2022 polls
President Duterte assured local candidates of PDP-LABAN that the party will support them throughout the campaign but asked them to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections in 2022.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Robredo supporters hold motorcade in Cebu City
Supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo held a motorcade around this city on Saturday, October 16, to promote her presidential bid.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

‘Maring’ agri losses hit P1.74B; death toll rises to 39
Agricultural losses and damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm “Maring” (international name: Kompasu) have reached P1.74 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Philippine National Police

EDUCATION

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

ELECTION RELATED

Robredo expects little local support; Duterte rallies bets
Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday admitted that her presidential bid in 2022 was facing daunting challenges, not least of which was caused by the decimation of the Liberal Party (LP) she leads as chair.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Comelec opens Saturday voter registration in select areas
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opened its voter registration sites in select areas yesterday and will keep them available on two more Saturdays this month.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Colmenares welcomes inclusion in Pacquiao, De Guzman’s Senate slate
Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares welcomed on Sunday his inclusion in the senatorial slate of presidential aspirants Senator Manny Pacquiao and labor leader Leody De Guzman.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senate run for Roque after all?
It looks like presidential spokesperson Harry Roque may have a plan B for his possible Senate run.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

LABOR

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Initial Pharmally report out next week
The Senate blue ribbon committee will release next week its initial findings on the alleged misuse of pandemic funds, and will pinpoint the irregularities committed in the grant of around P11 billion worth of supply contracts to an undercapitalized firm, Sen. Richard Gordon said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

TOURISM

WATER and ENERGY