Surface and release NDFP peace consultant Edwin Alcid and Northern Samar farmers
We reiterate our demand for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), specifically the 803rd Infantry Brigade under the 8th Infantry Division, to surface and release peace consultant Edwin Alcid (Ka Veejo or Ka Terry) who was accosted with two others last March 8 in Barangay San Jose (Hibubuylao), Catubig, Northern Samar.
Communist Party of the Philippines

Justine Kate “Ka Celin” Raca: taksil sa rebolusyon at sa mamamayang Palaweño!
Mariing tinutuligsa ng Bienvenido Vallever Command (BVC)-BHB Palawan ang tahasang pagpapagamit ni Justine Kate Raca sa Western Command (WESCOM) at Palawan Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) sa paghahasik ng mga kasinungalingan at panlilinlang sa mamamayan.
Communist Party of the Philippines

SAKM Cluster Conducts Local Peace Engagement, Community Consultation; 74 FRs Pledge to Support Gov’t Peace and Dev’t Efforts in Aurora
Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster Region 3 conducted a peace engagement and community consultation attended by 74 Former Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members held at the covered court of Barangay Dinadiawan, Dipaculao, Aurora on March 18, 2022.
Kalinaw News

[OPINION] Chad Booc and the New Bataan 5: Killing the right to education
It is an understatement that the killing of the New Bataan 5, which included volunteer Lumad teachers Chad and Jurain, last February 24 is one of the worst heartbreaks for those who are aware of the Lumad youth’s struggle to an accessible, safe, and quality education.
Rappler

Peace talks

PEACETALK: Rethinking and renewing the GRP-NDFP peace talks in 2022
Every advent of a new presidential administration in the Philippines, including for its election campaign prelude period, it has become fashionable to call for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), but strangely forgetting (unwittingly or wittingly) any call for a ceasefire.
Mindanews

Incidents/Operations

Navy relieves officer over alleged online threat vs Kabataan party-list nominee
The Philippine Navy said it has relieved an ensign who reportedly issued a death threat against Kabataan Party-list’s national president and first nominee Raoul Manuel on social media
Philippine Star

Former Rebels/Local Residents reveal cache of war materials in Southern Leyte
A former NPA couple, alyas “Roc” and alyas “Jhon”, who previously surrendered to the Army’s 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade last January 13, 2022, revealed the location of arms cache in the vicinity of Brgy. Old Kauswagan, Saint Bernard and Sitio Tabjon, Brgy. Calag-itan, Hinunangan, both of Southern Leyte province.
Kalinaw News

72nd IB’s hamletting of peasants in Culaman Valley in Bukidnon is NTF-ELCAC and ATC’s fascist sleight of hand in action—PKM-SMR
They were coerced with the promise of freedom but were locked up instead. Nine farmers, eight Manobo and one Ilonggo, are currently being unlawfully detained in a local Paanakan center (lying-in clinic) of a peasant community here, after being coerced to “voluntarily surrender” to troops of the 72nd Infantry Battalion over trumped-up charges.
Communist Party of the Philippines

Mga residente, nagbarikada para ipagtanggol ang kababaryo
Pinalibutan ng mga residente ng Sityo Cabiti, Barangay Santol, Binalbagan ang bahay ng isa nilang kababaryo kaninang madaling araw para ipagtanggol siya laban sa mga sundalo at pulis.
Communist Party of the Philippines

MARAWI 

Rehabilitation updates

WORLD 

DR Congo: Fourteen killed in machete attack in Ituri province
Fourteen people, including seven children, have been killed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Red Cross has said, as a community leader blamed a notorious armed group for the bloody attack.
Al Jazeera

Dialogue launched for establishment of Network of Religious Leaders to Prevent Violent Extremism in Iraq [EN/AR]
On 19 March, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq and the National Committee on the Implementation of the Strategy to Prevent Violent Extremism at the National Security Advisory launched the first dialogue session on the establishment of the Network of Religious Leaders to Prevent Violent Extremism in Iraq.
Reliefweb
 

Operations/Incidents

Village watchman, 5 others nabbed in drug busts
A VILLAGE watchman and five other drug suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in the cities of Bacolod and San Carlos, and in Manapla town, Negros Occidental on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
Sunstar Bacolod

Recovery and Rehabilitation
Investigations 

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS

‘Fake shoes, slippers worth P31.5-M’ seized by NBI
More than P31.5 million worth of ‘counterfeit’ shoes and slippers which were passed on as original “Nike” footwear have been confiscated from a warehouse in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.
Manila Bulletin

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

NBI arrests woman ‘engaged in investment scam’
A woman allegedly engaged in an investment scam has been arrested in La Union, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Sunday, March 20.
Manila Bulletin

ILLEGAL LOGGING

Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression

Martial Law

COVID-19

Cases

Philippines records 577 new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 45K
The Philippines on Sunday logged 577 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,674,286.
GMA News

PH still at ‘very low risk’ for Covid-19 amid rise in infections in other Asian countries — OCTA
The Philippines remained under “very low risk” classification for Covid-19 despite the surge in cases in neighboring countries, the independent research group OCTA said on Sunday, March 20.
Manila Bulletin

Department of Health

IATF/NTF COVID-19 

92% of BJMP inmates already vaccinated
Ninety-eight percent of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in jail facilities managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Philippine News Agency

Regions

Luzon including NCR 

Baguio lauded for being model city, excellent transition to new normal
Team from the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (Code) of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 has lauded this Summer Capital as it became a role model city for its excellent transition to the new normal.
Manila Bulletin

Visayas

Mindanao

World

Millions in China’s northeast placed under COVID-19 lockdown
China has imposed stay-at-home orders on millions more people in the country’s northeast, as it tries to tackle its biggest coronavirus outbreak in two years.
Al Jazeera

South Korea’s daily coronavirus cases stay below 400,000 for second day
South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases dropped below 400,000 for the second straight day on Sunday but concerns remain high that infections could spike again as the government is set to ease social distancing rules this week.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Visitors to Malaysia will be issued with digital traveler’s cards as it reopens borders
International travelers to Malaysia will be issued with digital traveler’s cards once the country reopens its borders fully from April 1, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Saturday (March 19).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Incidents and Violations 

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Backward move
While the rest of the world saw the many benefits of work-from-home (WFH) and other hybrid arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, here is the government forcing workers in the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sector to physically report to their offices if only to prop up the economy by making them spend on dining and shopping. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PH should be producing COVID-19 vaccine by now, say Sotto, Bello
The Philippines should now be producing vaccines against COVID-19 instead of importing them aftertwo years since the pandemic started, vice presidential candidates Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and former Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION 

Philippines external debt hits $106.4 billion
The foreign obligations of the Philippines went up by 8.1 percent to $106.43 billion last year as the national government borrowed more, including the emergency reserve fund from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to finance the country’s COVID-19 response measures.
Philippine Star

Mindanao bizmen want excise tax lifted
Some business leaders here batted for the lifting of the excise tax on oil products, instead of just providing subsidies for poor families, amid threats posed by the rising cost of fuel on Davao region’s multibillion-peso banana industry.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT

PHL banks’ Q4 loan growth fastest since Q1 2020
FOURTH-QUARTER lending by the Philippines’ biggest banks grew at the fastest pace since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
BusinessWorld

The impact of free trade agreements on the Philippines
As the economy recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is optimistic that free trade agreements (FTA) will help boost the growth of exports.
The Manila Times

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

DPWH fast-tracks works on iconic Binondo-Intramuros Bridge
The pace of finishing works on the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ramping up with night work, in addition to the daytime construction activities.
Philippine News Agency

P21-B UP-PGH in QC to create thousands of new jobs
The PHP21.3-billion University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Diliman Project will have a huge multiplier effect on the economy of Quezon City in terms of creating new jobs and income, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 

Disaster resilience must be taught in schools
Partido Reporma senatorial Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday said a subject that focuses on disaster resilience should be included in the school curriculum since Filipinos are often exposed to different natural hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions among others.
Philippine News Agency

Japan, WFP turn over Odette grant aid
Japan Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Yamamoto Yasushi attended on March 10 the turnover ceremony for the donation of emergency food and logistics assistance to those affected by Typhoon Odette in Burgos City, Surigao del Norte.
The Manila Times

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

DOJ has new OIC undersecretary, spokesperson
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Sunday, March 20, said he has designated a new officer-in-charge (OIC) undersecretary and spokesperson for the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines 

PH Army honors ex-Army chiefs
The Philippine Army (PA) has paid tribute to all of its 64 former Army Commanding Generals in a ceremony held at the PA Officers Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City as part of their month-long 125th anniversary celebration.
Manila Bulletin 

Music as ‘unifying force’ boosts Army’s peace efforts
The Filipinos' love for music could also play a major role in uniting and giving peace to the country. This is the rationale behind the "United in Music. One for Peace" held by the Philippine Army (PA) in its grandstand in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig Friday night.
Philippine News Agency

Philippine National Police 

66% of 221K fully vaxxed PNP personnel get booster shots
The Philippine National Police (PNP) raised to 66.50 percent its booster vaccine rate as of Sunday. In its latest Covid-19 tracker, the PNP said 147,622 out of 221,990 fully vaccinated personnel already have the added protection against Covid-19.
Philippine News Agency

EDUCATION

DepEd embraces game-based teaching, learning through Minecraft: Education Edition
To create better classroom experiences, the Department of Education (DepEd) has tapped video game Minecraft to utilize game-based learning and teaching for Filipino teachers and students.
Manila Bulletin

Palace optimistic about teachers’ salary increase
An increase in the salaries of teachers might soon be realized despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Philippine News Agency

Face to face
As alert levels go down, thousands of schools have resumed face-to-face classes. Medical education is a topic of interest, as it is thought to be heavily dependent on physically present, clinical work. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ELECTION RELATED

Breach or no breach, Comelec should explain
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should be made to explain the security breach in Smartmatic’s operations after the poll body initially denied any breach, but later admitted that an employee of its voting system supplier turned over digital data to a suspected hacking syndicate.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Comelec debate: Bets tackle tax issue of no-show Marcos
Due to his absence in Saturday night’s presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was unable to defend himself from criticism over his family’s nonpayment of P203 billion in estate taxes, an issue recently raised by one of this rivals.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

National elections

Pacquiao: Use P33-B aid to buy rice
The government can put the P33.1 billion aid to better use by using the funds to buy 20 million sacks of rice, which will benefit both local farmers and the poor families who will receive the rice.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sara skips Comelec’s VP debates
Like her running mate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte skipped the debate sponsored on Sunday by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and joined him at a rally in Malabon City.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Candidates back calls for Marcoses to pay estate tax
PHILIPPINE presidential candidates backed calls at the weekend for the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to pay billions of pesos in estate and income taxes.
BusinessWorld

Students score Marcos, Duterte for refusing to debate
A group of collegiate debaters on Saturday slammed leading presidential and vice presidential candidates former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for refusing to debate their opponents in the coming election.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Some Mindanaoans jeer at Marcos for skipping Comelec debate
Some Mindanaoans frowned over presidential candidate and ex-senator Ferdinand “Bonbong” Marcos Jr.’s no-show during the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) presidential debates on Saturday, March 19.
Rappler

Walden Bello wants to cleanse Davao City over alleged corruption
Vice presidential candidate Walden Bello said Sunday that he wants to focus on "cleansing" Davao City should he win in Eleksyon 2022.
GMA News

Thousands show up in Pasig City for Robredo
The event organizers said the activity was designed to “highlight Pasig City as a city of courageous and patriotic freedom fighters, with the likes of Jovito Salonga and Rene Saguisag having come from this city.”
Manila Standard

Bello sings a Sinatra tune to Marcos, Duterte: ‘Where Are You?’
Vice presidential candidate former Rep. Walden Bello is not done with his tirades against another candidate, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for skipping the debates.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Kiko, Bello blast gov't COVID-19 response; other VP bets suggest improvements
Vice presidential candidates in the 2022 elections on Sunday said there is much to be improved in the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan blaming "incompetent" leadership and former lawmaker Walden Bello describing it as "militaristic."
GMA News

13 members of 1971-72 Constitutional Convention endorse Robredo
Thirteen surviving members of the 1971-72 Constitutional Convention on Sunday declared their “unconditional and total support” for presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo.
CNN Philippines

Respect others’ choices, Bongbong urges voters
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged Filipinos to respect each other’s choice for the 2022 national elections after he noticed an “increase in vitriolic exchanges” among supporters of competing candidates on various social media platforms.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Local elections

Incidents

Almost 2,000 gun ban violators arrested since Jan. 9- PNP
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded gun owners to refrain from carrying their firearms outside their residence amid the continuous rise of those arrested for gun ban violation.
Manila Bulletin

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

Political Dynasties 2022: Zubiris rule Bukidnon after Fortich
After a political career that has spanned nearly four decades, Bukidnon Governor Jose Maria “Nonoy Joe” Zubiri Jr. and his family remain as the political force to reckon with in the heart of Mindanao.
Rappler

Comelec must decide Marcos Jr. disqualification cases now
The reorganized Commission on Elections (Comelec), with the recent appointment of its chair and two new commissioners, seems to have a less than auspicious start, and still much less of an assurance of a honeymoon period to prove itself trustworthy and credible. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

JUDICIARY

Supreme Court

Court of Appeals

Sandiganbayan

Municipal/Regional Trial Courts

LABOR

Farmers’ group slams gov’t report on PH’s unemployment decline
The government’s latest unemployment statistics failed to include discouraged workers in the agriculture sector that were forced out of farming activities, peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said on Sunday, March 20.
Manila Bulletin

More jobs to open soon in Canada for Pinoys- DOLE
More job openings in Canada will available soon for Filipinos after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) signed a labor cooperation agreement with the government of Yukon.
Manila Bulletin

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

Senate panel issues show cause order vs PATAFA Board
The Senate Committee on Sports has issued a show cause order to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) board of directors, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Sunday.
Manila Bulletin

Bato dela Rosa presses e-sabong probe
The Senate will continue investigating the cases of disappearances until it pins down the mastermind behind the abduction of at least 34 persons over their alleged involvement in online “sabong” game fixing activities, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

House of Representatives

Solon pushes for 'work-from-home' setup amid Covid-19, fuel crisis
House Social Services Committee chair Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas is pushing for the adoption of work-from-home (WFH) setups amid the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fuel crisis.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

FOREIGN RELATIONS   

West Philippine Sea

Group accuses China of using similar tactics as Russia in WPS
A nationalist group accused China of emulating Russian techniques in its illegal incursions into the Philippines’ maritime boundaries, as well as in its construction of islands in the West Philippine Sea to “legitimize” claims to the territory.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

MinDA pitches agri logistics projects to European investors
LOGISTICS and transport connectivity projects that will strengthen the agriculture sector are among the biggest investment opportunities in the southern Philippines, the Mindanao Development Authority (MiNDA) told European businesses at a forum on Friday.
BusinessWorld

Better agriculture platforms needed
MAJOR problems plague Philippine agriculture, which needs more attention from those hoping to be in the next government. This campaign season, we hope to hear better platforms for this sector. 
The Manila Times

Study bares huge post-harvest losses
The study "Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines" funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed billions of pesos in post-harvest losses along the value chains of onions, tomatoes and mangoes.
The Manila Times

GENDER

Female cops initiate women empowerment of PDL in Abra
As part of the 2022 National Women’s Month celebration, female police officers of Abra Police Provincial Office (PPO) on Thursday conducted a women empowerment program for female Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) of Abra Provincial Jail.
Manila Bulletin

YOUTH

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

NAPC leads groundbreaking of housing settlement in Bohol
The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) held the groundbreaking ceremony of its Convergence Project on Housing Settlement in Bohol, the Commission announced on Sunday, March 20.
Manila Bulletin

POVERTY

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

TOURISM

Foreign tourist arrivals steadily rising
More foreigners are expected to spend summer in the Philippines, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) expecting international arrivals to reach an average of 12,000 per day in the coming weeks.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dagupan City to celebrate ‘Bangus’ festival after two-year suspension due to pandemic
Mayor Marc Brian Lim on Sunday announced the celebration of the Bangus Festival — one of the biggest and most colorful celebrations of local industry and culture – on April 30 this year.
Manila Bulletin

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Protecting ‘invisible’ water
Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise, putting our most visible sources of water at risk. Southeast Asia has been projected as one of the regions to be most affected by climate change.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LIFTING OF BAN: SMPC 1st to obtain mine deal
The government granted the first mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) after the lifting of the moratorium on new mining deals.
Malaya Business Insight

WATER and ENERGY

PH riding on ‘nuclear energy renaissance’
‘Nuclear renaissance’ is undoubtedly gaining traction and sweeping policy agendas for global energy markets, with the likes Germany opting to decommission nuclear fleets; while others are integrating this technology in the revolution of their future energy mix. 
Manila Bulletin

Neda exec: We need more investments to improve water supply, sanitation
MORE investments are needed to boost the country’s water supply and sanitation situation and eventually achieve the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 6 targets, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said.
Business Mirror