Our Conflict Alert 2020 report is out!
The Conflict Alert 2020 report presents analysis on conflict dynamics and trends from 2011 to 2019 in the Bangsamoro, highlighting the rise of violence in pockets and corridors of the region within a picture of continued overall decline of violent conflict across provinces. The report tackles the high incidence of identity, resource, and political violence and the persistent nature of violent extremism and shadow economies of drugs and weapons in the region.
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Imao’s memorial on UP campus becomes protest art
The history of the University of the Philippines (UP) is rife with encounters—but not the kind of underground guerrilla warfare the military thinks is seething within its storied walls.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
AFP names acting intel chief amid ongoing probe on ‘erroneous’ red-tagging list
The Armed Forces of the Philippines designated on Sunday the acting deputy chief-of-staff for intelligence amid the ongoing probe on the erroneous list that tagged some University of the Philippines alumni as members of the New People’s Army.
CNN Philippines
NUPL to continue fight vs attacks on members
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has vowed to continue its fight against vilification and attacks on its members and all members of the legal community.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Esperon hits Reds; CEAP denies NPA link
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon has slammed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for allegedly peddling lies over the controversial P16.4-billion Barangay Development Program (BDP).
Philippine Star
[Opinion] NTF-ELCAC’s continued red-tagging makes AFP apology deceptive
Alex Padilla, one of the 28 University of the Philippines students and alumni in the list of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “who became NPA (died or captured),” noted that the unsigned apology of the AFP Information Center that released the erroneous and egregious list is ”hardly one.”
ABS- CBN News
[Opinion] Disastrous propaganda or brazen intimidation?
Professional members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police must be cringing in embarrassment after witnessing blunder upon blunder being committed by their organizations. First, the AFP made a list of University of the Philippines alumni that it claimed were “dead or captured” members of the New People’s Army. The list was released with the clear intention of reinforcing the AFP’s unilateral cancellation of a long-standing agreement that prohibits the military and police from entering UP campuses without justification and prior notification. It turned out that numerous names in the list are very much alive and are freely practicing their trade or profession as prominent members of society. The most horrendous mistake is the inclusion in the list of lawyer Alexander Padilla who was, at one time, the Philippine government’s peace negotiating panel chair in the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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NCRPO chief slams ‘recruitment by deception’ luring laborers into CPP-NPA
Laborers are easy targets of recruitment into the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army, says Police Major General Vicente Danao Jr., Director of the National Capital Region.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Combatting Terrorism through Education, Military and GMA Kapuso Foundation Strengthen Partnership in Bicol
In the pursuit to provide the Bicolanos a conducive environment for learning, the Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) and GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. (GMAKFI) once again collaborated to rehabilitate and build classrooms for various schools in Bicol which were damaged by three strong typhoons last year.
Kalinaw News
Peace talks
Educators urge gov’t to tackle roots of insurgency
The government should focus on dealing with the roots of communist insurgency, such as poverty and marginalization, instead of Red-tagging educational institutions and endangering the security and welfare of teachers and students, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) said on Saturday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Incidents/Operations
35 NPA rebels surrender in north
Thirty-five members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) have surrendered to the 17th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Zinundungan Valley, according to the Army’s Fifth Infantry Division (ID). A Fifth ID soldier said the Zinundungan Valley in Rizal town in Cagayan province is one of the CPP-NPA rebel strongholds in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). Among the surrenderers, three were regular members of the CPP-NPA, five were members of the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad and 27 were Militia ng Bayan members, who simultaneously surrendered to the 17th IB on Jan. 28, 2021. T
Manila Times
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All eyes on Supreme Court justices as they hear petitioners vs Anti-Terror Law
On February 2, the 15 justices of the Supreme Court will hear the oral arguments on the much-contested Anti-Terror Law. The law is a priority of President Rodrigo Duterte, the reason why it was earmarked as urgent in Congress, and being fast-tracked, took only less than a year to be signed into law.
Bulatlat
MARAWI
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
Muslim boy, 4, referred to UK anti-extremism program over video game comment
The British government’s anti-extremism program Prevent is under fire after it was revealed that a Muslim boy aged 4 was flagged by his after-school club for talking about the video game “Fortnite.”
Arab News
Domestic violent extremists will be harder to combat than homegrown jihadists
The Biden administration has said it will take steps to combat domestic violent extremism. While the move comes close on the heels of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol Building, the nation has witnessed recent acts of violence stemming from both far left and far right extremists.
The Hill
State Dept Spox: ‘Largest Threat to U.S. National Security are U.S. Cops’
The State Department’s newly installed deputy spokesperson, Jalina Porter, said in a 2016 Facebook post that the “largest threat to U.S. national security are U.S cops,” according to a screenshot of the post obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The Jeweish Voice
Covid-19 giving 'extremist groups chance to launch disinformation campaigns'
The Covid-19 pandemic has given “fringe and extremist groups” opportunities to launch “disinformation campaigns”, according to a counter-extremism expert.
Irish Examiner
Denmark sermons law could stifle free worship, warns C of E bishop
The liberties of the centuries-old community of Anglicans in Denmark are being threatened by a draft law requiring all sermons to be translated and submitted to the state, the Church of England’s bishop in Europe has said.
The Guardian
Diplomatic Immunity or Terrorism Impunity?
During an online conference on Thursday, January 28, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Mr. Paulo Casaca, a former Member of the European Parliament from Portugal, highlighted the need to address Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism.
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
Portuguese director films ISIS bride movie in Duhok camps
A Portuguese film crew is making a movie in two camps in Duhok province sheltering Yazidis displaced from their homes by the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
Rudaw
‘Making our home safe again’: meet the women who clear land mines
After decades of war, more and more women are working to remove lethal mines and IEDs from the fields and cities of their homelands. It’s dangerous, but it’s helping to rebuild their lives
The Guardian
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BARMM
‘Culture of silence,’ settlements hinder reporting of abuse (Last of two parts)
A major factor that hinders reporting of abuse in Bangsamoro is the “culture of silence” in families that view violence against women and children as a shame or a stain on their clan’s honor, said Helen Rojas, chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC).The lack of awareness of women’s rights, especially in grassroots communities, she said, contributes to the silence, leading to nonreporting and nondocumentation.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Some Abu Sayyaf members seek to join Bangsamoro decommissioning: BARMM chief
Several Abu Sayyaf members "have manifested" interest in joining the decommissioning process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the region's chief minister said Friday. The BARMM has completed the first phase of the decommissioning process and continues to hold "dialogues with all the groups including the Abu Sayyaf in the island provinces," BARMM chief minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said in an online forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. "Some of the Abu Sayyaf have manifested their possible joining in the parliament and the decommissioning process," he said.
Luwaran
MSSD hires 64 new permanent personnel
In line with the successive hiring of new workforce in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) appointed 64 new permanent personnel.
NDBC News
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
4 slain in Maguindanao ambush
Four persons were killed in an ambush Saturday afternoon in Dari Anggal Midtimbang town, Maguindanao, police said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
CAFGU hurt in Maguindanao grenade attack
At about 1:40pm of January 30, 2021, PNP personnel of this MPS led by PMAJOR OLEGARIO B. SALVADOR, JR., COP immediately responded to the incident re: Granade Throwing Explosion occurred at about 1:30PM of the same day, particularly at Lining Detachment, 1st Mech BN, PA, Barangay Labu-Labu Mother, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
NDBC News
7 killed in separate Central Mindanao gun incidents
Seven persons, two of them women, linked to drug rings were killed in separate incidents in the neighboring Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces Saturday.
NDBC News
2 killed, 4 hurt in separate freak accidents in Polomolok, Mlang
Two drivers were killed in freak accidents in Mlang, North Cotabato and in Polomolok, South Cotabato this weekend.
NDBC News
LANAO PROVINCES
BASILAN
SULU
TAWI-TAWI
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DRUGS
Operations/ Incidents
Mayor’s son-in-law nabbed for drugs
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Caraga region has confirmed that one of three drug suspects arrested in a sting in this city last month is a son-in-law of a municipal mayor.
Philippine Star
P900,000 shabu seized in Navotas buy-bust
Nearly P900,000 worth of suspected shabu were seized from three alleged drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in Barangay North Bay Boulevard North, Navotas City before dawn Sunday.
Manila Bulletin
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
2 dead in alleged shootout in Davao Oriental
Two people were killed after allegedly resisting arrest from law enforcers and figuring into a shootout in Boston town in Davao Oriental on Sunday afternoon.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
BOC seizes P100M worth of fake goods in Tondo warehouse
The Bureau of Customs seized P100 million worth of fake goods from a warehouse in Tondo, Manila. Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service agents from Manila International Container Port raided the warehouse on Jan. 25 and found counterfeit goods, including bags bearing the brands Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
[Editorial] Combating credit card fraud
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was shocked early last month when he found out that his credit card had been hacked and he was hit with a hefty bill of about P1.1 million for liquor items ordered through a food delivery app. Gatchalian said the hacker was able to change the mobile number linked to his credit card account, such that he did not receive the one-time passwords needed to authorize the four separate transactions, all executed in less than an hour in the afternoon of Jan. 5.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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One hundred years of struggle in Hacienda Yulo
Dorotea Mangubat watched silently as her family’s home was being burned down. She could do nothing but clutch a statue of the Sto. Niño; the only possession she managed to salvage from inside. Had the armed guards had their way, Dorotea would’ve burned inside the house with her Sto. Niño statue.
Bulatlat
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Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
Media task force chief’s claim on conviction of accused in Maguindanao massacre lacks context
The claim of Executive Director Joel Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) about the conviction of the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre needs context.
Vera Files
Martial Law
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COVID-19
Cases
PH logs 2,103 new COVID-19 cases as total exceeds 525,000
Coronavirus infections in the country rose past 525,000 on Sunday, a year after the local outbreak was confirmed. With 2,103 new cases recorded by the Department of Health, the nationwide tally now stands at 525,618, of which 27,318 or 5.2% are active cases. The DOH said that of the active cases 87.7% experience mild symptoms, 5.5% have no symptoms, 3.3% are critical cases, 2.8% are severe cases, and 0.6% are moderate cases.
CNN Philippines
Department of Health
DOH logs 2,103 new Covid-19 infections; 11,653 more recover
Over 2,000 more people in the Philippines have contracted Covid-19 while more than 11,000 others have recovered from the disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Red Cross to ladies wanting saliva PCR test: No lipstick, please
For ladies who intend to undergo saliva COVID-19 PCR test, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has a reminder: Do not wear lipstick to the test or else your sample will become invalid.
Manila Bulletin
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Regions
Luzon including NCR
Makati offers free jabs to city workers
Makati City will give free vaccines against Covid-19 to all workers in the country’s financial center even if they are not residents.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Baguio implements curfew, liquor ban as GCQ in CAR starts
Baguio City issued guidelines for its curfew hours and liquor ban as the general community quarantine (GCQ) started on Monday in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
GMA News
Visayas
Bacolod City curfew still from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. in February
Curfew hours in this city will continue to be from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., and persons below 15 years old and above 65 years old must continue to stay at home throughout February.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Mindanao
World
After freezer fails, medical workers rush to give out 1,600 COVID-19 vaccines at midnight
Medical workers in the United States made a mad dash to administer 1,600 COVID-19 vaccines hours before they expired. A freezer unit at a Kaiser Permanente medical center in Seattle, Washington, failed at 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28. Medical staff wanted to make sure they were distributed before they expired at 5:30 a.m., KOMO reported on Friday, Jan. 29.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
[Opinion] What is happening to our country, General?
In July 1982, while returning home from a dinner hosted by Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, former vice president Emmanuel Pelaez was seriously wounded in an ambush near his home in Quezon City. Two carloads of armed men blocked his car and fired at the occupants, killing the driver. Pelaez survived and was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center where during an interview, he asked “What is happening to our country, General?” referring to the deterioration of the rule of law, rising unsolved killings, cronyism in the economy, and the growing poverty in society. The officer was Brig. Gen. Tomas Karingal, at that time, Quezon City police chief. Today the same question is on the minds of people.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
‘Building back better’ after COVID-19
Is a better world possible after it has been shaken by the pandemic? Building back a better world after the disastrous effects of the coronavirus disease and its variants may seem far-fetched at this time in the Philippines and in many parts of the world.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Fix pandemic response instead of defending it — Robredo
The government should act and fix the country’s response against the Covid-19 pandemic instead of defending it, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Duterte should follow Magalong’s ‘admirable’ example, says Leni
VICE President Leni Robredo yesterday urged the Executive to follow the example set by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who resigned as COVID-19 contact tracing czar after attending a party in Baguio City where rules on social distancing and mask-wearing were violated.
Malaya
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
Solons seeks ‘drastic’ reforms vs. corruption
Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Representatives Eddie Villanueva and Domingo Rivera are urging the government to go back to the drawing board aimed to introduce genuine and drastic reforms on its campaign against corruption and red tape.
Manila Standard
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
PHL beats FATF deadline; new ‘dirty money’ rules out
The Philippines beat the Feb. 1 deadline set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to enact tougher rules against money laundering and terrorist financing, the chairman of the House committee on banks said on Sunday.
Business World
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
GDP to rebound by around 7% in 2021—economists
AFTER contracting by 9.5 percent in 2020, the Philippine economy is poised to rebound by around 7 percent this year, according to a recent economic forecast.
Business Mirror
Covid worries may cause downward bias for market
A downward bias is still seen for the local bourse this week as pandemic-related worries could continue to dampen investor sentiment, according to an analyst.
Manila Times
COVID crisis, elections may derail Duterte’s reform agenda
THE coronavirus crisis and lawmakers’ preparations for the 2022 national elections could hamper efforts to legislate reforms to boost the Philippine investment climate, Moody’s Investors Service said.
Business World
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
Sinas orders another major PNP reshuffle
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Debold Sinas has ordered a major revamp of the police force because of the scheduled retirement of some top officials.
Manila Times
EDUCATION
DepEd should assess students’ performance in online classes — Gatchalian
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said the Department of Education (DepEd) should institute mechanisms to check whether students are learning enough under its distance learning setup.
Manila Bulletin
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTION RELATED
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Go: Gov’t working double time to address hunger, generate jobs, revive economy
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go assured the public that the government is working double time to revive the economy as the Philippine Statistics Authority reported an economic contraction of -9.5% in 2020, making it the steepest slump in the country’s history since 1947.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Summon China envoy over new law, solon urges
Senator Francis Tolentino on Sunday said the Philippines should file a joint diplomatic protest against China before the United Nations after Beijing passed a new law authorizing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels in the hotly contested South China Sea waterways.
Manila Standard
Recto urges gov’t to stockpile syringes, freezers while waiting for vaccines
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Sunday said the government should stockpile on syringes and other supplies while it is waiting for the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to be delivered to the Philippines.
Manila Bulletin
House of Representatives
Manila to declare Feb. 1 as National Hijab Day
In a “milestone” move, the Philippines House of Representatives has approved a bill declaring the first day of February as National Hijab Day every year to promote a “deeper understanding” of the Muslim practice, as well as tolerance for other faiths across the country.
Arab News
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
Gov’t to transfer some functions to LGUs
Amid a protracted pandemic, President Duterte will step in to ensure that national coffers won’t bleed as much next year by transferring more public functions to local government units (LGUs) while they enjoy a bigger share of tax collections starting 2022.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Instead of attacking critics, Duterte gov't urged to probe Chinese dredging
President Rodrigo Duterte's government should focus on illegal Chinese activities in Philippine territory such as dredging, instead of attacking its critics, Bayan Muna said Sunday.
ABS- CBN News
West Philippine Sea
South China Sea to test Biden’s diplomatic skills
Irrespective of which party rules the United States, China is unlikely to dilute its aggressive approach — whether it is in South China Sea or confrontation with India in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh
Tehelka
Duterte urged to allow navy to join drills in South China Sea
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte should let the Philippine Navy join war games in the South China Sea after China passed a law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in the disputed waterway, political analysts said.
Business World
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Marcos warns increasing pork imports may ‘slaughter’ local hog raisers
Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday warned that raising pork importation could push Filipino producers out of business as she called on the government to prevent importers from taking over the local market supply.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
PH faces prolonged shortage in sugar supply
The Philippines has been short of sugar production for many years, and it will stay that way for a long time, a top official of a sugar-producing company said.
Manila Bulletin
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
OECD urges Philippines to improve logistics sector
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is recommending reforms, which include the delineation of regulatory and operational functions of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), amendment of the Public Service Act, and ensuring adequate compensation to the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) to improve the competitiveness of the logistics sector.
Philippine Star
Flag carrier complies with IATF directives
STARTING February 1, passengers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights arriving in the country would be encouraged to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on the sixth day of quarantine at a facility or hotel accredited by government’s tourism and health agencies.
Business Mirror
Car seats required for children 12 years and below starting Feb. 2
Children aged 12 years and below will be prohibited from taking the front seats in private vehicles and instead be mandated to be seated in child restraint systems (CRS) or car seats starting Tuesday, February 02, 2021, as part of the full implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.
GMA News
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
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