Duterte appeals to communist rebels anew: 'I don't want war, come down now'
President Duterte called on the communist rebels anew to return to the fold of the law while he is still in office, stressing the need to end the country’s decades-long communist insurgency.
Manila Bulletin

Probe Red ‘conspiracy,’ Esperon urges DOJ
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Thursday maintained it was immoral for candidates in the coming election to accept the political support of groups linked to the communist movement.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Scenario building: Violence in the May 9 elections?
Incoherent as usual, but unusually brief, was President Duterte’s remark a week ago: He warned that, per an intelligence report, communist insurgents are conniving with the political opposition to disrupt the May 9 elections.
Philippine Star

Waging a continuing national democratic revolution: 50 years and beyond
Today, the Christians for National Liberation celebrate the 50 years of continuing struggle—upholding our call for national democratic revolution in the Philippines.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines

IP Leaders to Solidify Partnership with Army, NCIP in Peace and Security Efforts in Tarlac
The Commander of the 7th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division, Philippine Army Major General Andrew D Costelo PA welcomed the sincerity of 15 Indigenous People in Tarlac as they expressed their support to the peace and development efforts of the government during a meeting
Kalinaw News

Celebrate Makibaka’s 50 years of leading Filipino women’s revolutionary struggle
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) extends its warmest revolutionary greetings to the Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Makibaka) on the 50th anniversary of its foundation.
Philippine Revolution Web Portal

Bicol NPA: ‘Gov’t attacks us because they fear our strength’
The Romulo Jallores Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Bicol Region said the government’s increased military presence in civilian communities is proof of their strength, contrary to government’s claims that the Communist guerrilla army is weakening.
Kodao

Philippines: The Communist Threats
The NPA (New People’s Army) continues its decline, with several senior leaders killed or captured last year, some of them with over fifty years’ NPA experience. Many were found because of tips from local civilians.
Strategy page

Peace talks

Incidents/Operations

Three (3) armed NPA Terrorist personalities neutralize in Himamaylan
Three (3) armed members of Communists Terrorists Group personalities belonging to Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros were neutralized by the joint elements of units of 303rd Infantry Brigade under the supervision of Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, Brigade Commander and Himamaylan City PNP during the conduct of Law Enforcement Support Operation at Sitio Tondo, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental on March 18, 2022 at 4:00 in the morning.
Kalinaw News

1st Scout Rangers Battalion at 88th IB, naunahan ng BHB-Bukidnon
Pitong sundalo ang napatay sa kontra-opensiba ng BHB-Bukidnon laban sa nag-ooperasyong mga tropa ng 1st Scout Rangers Battalion at 8th IB sa Sityo Kiito, Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay City tanghali noong Marso 3.
Philippine Revolution Web Portal 

Pasistang terorismo ng AFP, bigong pigilan ang mga opensiba ng BHB-Northern Samar
Hindi napipigilan ng pasistang terorismo ng 20th Infantry Battalion, 803rd Infantry Brigade at PNP laban sa mamamayan ng Northern Samar ang sunud-sunod na mga opensiba ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan-Rodante Urtal Command (BHB-RUC) nitong Pebrero.
Philippine Revolution Web Portal

MARAWI 

Rehabilitation updates

WORLD 

ISIS has a new leader. It’s important to understand their operational capacity.
Over the last two months, news about the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) dominated international media headlines. On February 3, US special forces eliminated ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi in Syria, two weeks after the group’s most significant attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-run al-Sina’a prison in al-Hasakah province. 
Atlantic Council

FUELING INSURGENCY: LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS, ISIS, AND GREEN BERETS IN MOZAMBIQUE
In March 2021, roughly a dozen US Army Green Berets arrived in Mozambique to help train the Mozambican armed forces. In October, the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams made a port call to the capital described by the US ambassador to Mozambique as indicative of the “strength of the strategic partnership” with the United States.
Modern War Institute
 

Operations/Incidents

P11-B shabu seized in Quezon, biggest drug haul in PH history
OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized in a dawn operation in Quezon province on Tuesday, March 15, P11 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), considered the biggest drug haul in Philippine history.
Sunstar Manila

BOC seizes P6.9 million shabu hidden in toys
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated at least a kilo of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P6.9 million concealed in 31 dinosaur toys from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Philippine Star

Police uproot P2.4 million worth of MJ plants in SK
More or less 12, 000 hills of fully grown Marijuana plants as per PDEA estimated dangerous drug board value of P 2, 400,000.00 were uprooted on March 18, 2022 at 1: 00 PM at Sitio Alyeng, Brgy. Datalblao, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.
NDBC News

Cops dismantle drug den, arrest 5 HVT drug peddlers in GenSan
Operating in a final massive and reinvigorated conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations targeting illegal drugs personalities and drug syndicates, PRO 12, particularly Police Station 6 of General Santos City, pushed a Drug Buy Bust operation at Alunan- Bagsakan, Block 4, Barangay Bula, General Santos City on March 16, 2022.
NDBC News

Recovery and Rehabilitation
Investigations 

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION

ILLEGAL GAMBLING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION

ILLEGAL LOGGING

CHR cites efforts to mitigate fuel price hikes
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has lauded the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of the “astronomical increases” in prices of oil products to public utility drivers and operators.
Manila Bulletin

Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression

Palace condemns killing of Lanao-based journo; exec vows justice for victim
Malacañang has condemned the killing of a radio broadcaster from Lanao del Norte and a government official tasked to ensure media protection has vowed justice for the victim.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lanao Norte radio commentator killed in knife attack
An attacker killed with a kitchen knife a radio commentator in Bacolod town in Lanao del Norte Thursday.
NDBC News

Martial Law

COVID-19

65 million Filipinos now fully vaccinated vs Covid-19—DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) said at least 65 million individuals in the Philippines have already completed their primary vaccination series against Covid-19.
Manila Bulletin

Cases

Philippines logs 545 new COVID-19 cases, death toll nears 58,000
The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 545 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,673,201.
Xinhua

Department of Health

DOH intends to release Covid-19 case bulletin daily if infections increase anew
There is a possibility that the Department of Health (DOH) will once again release the Covid-19 case bulletin on a daily basis if the country will experience a spike in coronavirus infections again.
Manila Bulletin

DOH: Alert level 1 may stay until after Duterte
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said Filipinos should continue to wear face masks as the alert level 1 status in many areas of the country would likely remain until the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IATF/NTF COVID-19 

Vaccination program aims to focus on regions, move away from nationwide operations
Instead of again mounting a simultaneous nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, the government will now zero in on areas with low immunization rates, the co-lead of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Friday.
ABS-CBN News

PH Army launches integrated Covid-19 info system
More than two years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country in 2020, the Philippine Army (PA) launched an integrated information system on Thursday, March 17, to organize its efforts to curb the coronavirus in the military organization.
Manila Bulletin

Regions

Luzon including NCR 

Visayas

Mindanao

World

Pfizer, Moderna say it's time for another Covid vaccine booster. Experts aren't sure.
Is it time for yet another Covid-19 booster shot? Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna seem to think so, but some vaccine experts aren't so sure.
NBC News

Moderna files for emergency use of second Covid-19 booster shot
Moderna late on Thursday sought emergency use authorization from US health regulators for a second Covid-19 booster shot, as a surge in cases in some parts of the world fueled fears of another wave of the pandemic.
The Guardian

Hong Kong reports 20,082 new COVID cases as city promised fewer restrictions
Hong Kong reported about 20,000 new coronavirus cases on Friday as health experts called for a clear way out of a "zero COVID" policy that has left the city isolated.
Reuters

Incidents and Violations 

Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features

In post-COVID public transport, gov’t gives glance at motorcycle taxis
It was in 2020 when the Philippines imposed lockdowns to prevent a rise in COVID-19 cases which helped clear the notoriously congested roads of Metro Manila.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Palace clarifies: P200 monthly aid meant for 4Ps beneficiaries
Malacañang on Thursday clarified that the P200 monthly subsidy the government was releasing to poor households would primarily benefit those already receiving conditional cash grants under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte on missing sabungeros: 'It's the fault of evil men'
President Duterte has defended anew the continuous operations of online sabong or cockfighting, adding that the government is getting billions of pesos in revenues from it.
Manila Bulletin

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION

BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION 

BSP: Philippines' payments position to swing to deficit in 2022, 2023
Taking into account how the Russia-Ukraine war may affect global recovery, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the country's balance of payments (BOP) to shift from a surplus in 2021 to a deficit this year and next.
GMA News

BIR moves deadline of ITR filing on April 18
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has extended up to April 18 the deadline for the filing of 2021 income tax return (ITR).
Manila Bulletin

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS

DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 

Over 500 typhoon victims in Palawan get free medical, dental care supplies from US
The US Civil-Military Support Element-Philippines (CMSE-PHL) worked with Philippine partner organizations to provide over 1,000 kilograms of medical and dental supplies amounting to over P700,000.
Manila Bulletin

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

SC, DOJ, DILG launch Bataan Justice Zone to check problems in administration of justice
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año led the launching in Balanga City in Bataan on Friday, March 18, the country’ eighth Justice Zone (JZ) – a place where government agencies involved in the delivery of justice converge to address delay and accountability.
Manila Bulletin

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Armed Forces of the Philippines 

Philippine National Police 

EDUCATION

DepEd creates Private Education Office to support private schools
To provide support to private education institutions offering basic education, the Department of Education (DepEd) has established the Private Education Office (PEO) at the DepEd Central Office (CO).
Manila Bulletin

DepEd, doctors ask Duterte: Veto vape bill
The Department of Education (DepEd) and public health experts are one in urging President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the “antihealth” vape bill that, among others, lowers the age of access from 21 to 18.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ELECTION RELATED

Comelec installs 10 podiums for debate even if Marcos Jr. won’t show up
The absence of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, March 19, would be more palpable.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sotto: Contractual worker in Smartmatic ‘breach’ identified by NBI
The contractual employee of Smartmatic allegedly involved in a purported security breach was identified by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to senators and was taken into custody for the execution of his affidavit.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lawmakers cite Smartmatic leak; let’s wait for NBI, says Comelec
Sen. Imee Marcos and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said a hackers’ group had obtained confidential election data, which was first reported early this year, from Smartmatic Inc., the service provider of the country’s automated election system.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lakas-CMD looking into poll data breach issue–Mayor Duterte
The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party chaired by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is looking into the implications of the data breach on Smartmatic, the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) service contractor for the upcoming May 9 polls.
Manila Bulletin

National elections

You can’t cook, eat unity — Isko Moreno
Filipinos cannot eat “unity,” presidential candidate and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” stressed in a campaign sorties in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Thursday. 
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Zamboanga City Mayor Climaco, Hatamans of Basilan endorse Robredo
Thousands of supporters cheered as Mayor Maria Isabelle ‘Beng’ Climaco endorsed Vice President Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo in a rally at the venue named after her uncle, the legendary Mayor Cesar Climaco, who fought the Marcos dictatorship and was gunned down in November 1984.
Mindanews

Leni Robredo tells Zamboanga: Our boat can still hold more ‘kakampinks’
Vice President Leni Robredo has again rallied her supporters to seize opportunities to turn more people into “kakampinks.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mayor Sara, VP hopeful, says goodbye to City Hall
Mayor Sara Duterte rendered Thursday her last State of the City Address which also served as her valedictory after serving alternately as mayor and vice mayor for 12 years.
Mindanews

Two House members from Zambo Norte support VP Leni
Two of three members of the House of Representatives from Zamboanga del Norte are supporting the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Mindanews

Coalition of Muslim leaders backs Isko's presidential bid
A big coalition of Muslim religious leaders declared full support for the presidential bid of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday, March 15.
Manila Bulletin

Ka Leody wants cleaner, cheaper power for Mindanao
Presidential candidate Leodegario “Ka Leody” De Guzman has pushed for cleaner and cheaper sources of electricity for Mindanao.
Mindanews

De Lima eyes legal action vs people spreading fake news that she’s dead
Senator Leila de Lima is eyeing legal action against those responsible for false information spreading online claiming that she has passed away.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Why Robredo cannot move the needle
MANY presidential candidates — not named Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — are raising eyebrows and doubts about the findings of the latest Pulse Asia survey and the latest Laylo Research poll report.
The Manila Times

From Cabinet to campaign: Duterte's ex-DILG chief Sueño backs Robredo
Both booted out from President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet, Vice President Leni Robredo and former interior secretary Mike Sueño this week campaigned for dismantling disinformation under her leadership. 
ABS-CBN News

Local elections

Incidents

Person behind bomb scare in ‘pink’ rally released from detention
A graduating political science student of the Western Mindanao State University, went home happy and relieved after hours of questioning due to his viral “bomb scare” post on Thursday in the runup to the grand rally of Vice President Leni Robredo in Barangay Pasonanca.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Private Armed Groups

INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY  

JUDICIARY

Supreme Court

Court of Appeals

Sandiganbayan

Municipal/Regional Trial Courts

LABOR

Philippine unemployment falls to lowest since January 2020
The Philippines’ unemployment rate fell to a two-year low in January as the size of the workforce shrank due to stricter mobility curbs in the capital region, the government said.
Business world

TUCP to Duterte: Order wage boards to speed up wage reviews
NOT satisfied with the statement of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) asked President Rodrigo Duterte to order all regional wage boards to hasten the review of existing minimum wage rates.
Sunstar Manila

27 years since Flor Contemplacion, OFWs still at risk of abuse and maltreatment
Nearly three decades after migrant worker Flor Contemplacion was executed in 1995, groups said overseas Filipino workers are still treated as commodities and do not get enough protection or assistance from the government.
Philippine Star

Philippines: 4-day work week plan, what we know so far
Philippine economic managers have proposed a four-day work week, with a decision expected to be made as early as Monday next week.
Gulf News

LEGISLATIVE

Senate of the Philippines

House of Representatives

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

FOREIGN RELATIONS   

West Philippine Sea

More alarming Chinese incursions
While most Filipinos stood transfixed and distracted by the festive campaign sorties leading up to the May presidential elections, China has been stealthily breaching the country’s security parameters and undermining our sovereignty.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Restore import tariffs, meat producers urge
Local meat producers pleaded with the government to restore the tariffs on imported meat products, arguing that the tariff cuts “did not significantly lower the price of pork,” caused the government some P12 billion in revenue losses, and resulted in great hardship on the local swine industry.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

GENDER

YOUTH

HOUSING and SETTLEMENT

POVERTY

An insult to the poor
Amid the recent stratospheric rise in fuel prices, the government has approved a grant of a P200 monthly subsidy to the poorest Filipino families, instead of suspending the collection of excise and value-added taxes (VATs) on oil products as proposed by several lawmakers and consumer groups.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

TRANSPORTATION

LTFRB rejects request for temporary P1 hike in jeepney minimum fare
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) rejected the request of transport groups to hike the minimum fare from P9 to P10.
Rappler

DOTr unveils PH's longest electric multiple train set
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) unveiled on Friday the country’s first-ever eight-car electric multiple train set for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 in Malanday Depot, Valenzuela City.
Philippine News Agency

TOURISM

DOT: Tourist arrival in PH exceeds 100K
More than 100,000 foreign tourists have visited the Philippines since the national government opened the country’s borders to 157 visa-free nations last month, the Department of Tourism (DOT) revealed Friday, March 18.
Manila Bulletin

Tag your travel buddies! DOT allows hotel guests from different households to share rooms
Hotel guests from different households are now allowed to share rooms in accommodation establishments (AEs) located in areas under Alert Level 3 and below, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Thursday, March 17.
Manila Bulletin

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Unmasking responsible mining
“Responsible mining” is an umbrella term under which questionable features take shelter.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

WATER and ENERGY

Big fuel price rollback next week, if trend holds
A big rollback in local pump prices is projected to provide temporary relief to Filipino consumers next week —if the downward movement in oil prices is sustained until today.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Marcos skips nuke talk in Bataan
Presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. skipped talk about nuclear power in the province which hosts the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), a $2.3-billion facility that was mothballed in 1986 after the ouster of his father, the deceased former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Philippine Daily Inquirer