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Condemn NPA atrocities in Negros, Karapatan dared
The spokesperson of the Western Visayas Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC) on Sunday challenged the militant human rights group Karapatan to condemn violent acts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to show its sincerity in calling for justice and defending the people of Negros Island.
Philippine News Agency
Defend country's waters instead of 'red-tagging,' analyst tells military
The Armed Forces of the Philippines should be defending the country's waters from China instead of being preoccupied with "red tagging" fellow Filipinos, a political analyst said Sunday.
ABS-CBN News
48IB Facilitated the POINTY 2nd Quarter Provincial Meeting in Surigao del Sur
The 48th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion facilitated the 2nd Quarter Provincial Meeting of the Propelling Our Inherited Nation Through Our Youth (POINTY), Inc. Surigao and Agusan del Sur Chapter at 48IB Headquarters, Purok 1, Brgy Maharlika, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur on April 17, 2021.
Kalinaw News
Army’s Awareness Campaign for the Students of Misamis Oriental Continues
In collaboration with the St. Rita’s College of Balingasag, the 58th Infantry Dimalulupig conducted a two-day online information drive to its students through video teleconferencing (VTC), from April 15 to 16, 2021.
Kalinaw News
Peace talks
Incidents/Operations
26 NPA surrender, re-enter society
Twenty-six members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Iloilo returned to government fold. Philippine Army (PA) 3rd Infantry Division Spokesperson Major Cenon Pancito said this was due to the government’s community support program in rebel-infiltrated barangays in Panay.
Panay News
2 NPA rebels killed in southern Negros clash with troops
Two communist-terrorists were killed in a firefight with troops of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) in Barangay Bulwangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Philippine News Agency | Kalinaw News
26 NPA Militias Surrender in Iloilo
26 members of New People’s Army (NPA) Militias from the province of Iloilo formalized their surrender through a simple ceremony in Camp Ceferino in Barangay Libot, Calinog, Iloilo on Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Kalinaw News
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MARAWI
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
What QAnon Documentaries Reveal About How Conspiracies Flourish
A media suddenly bereft of the eye-popping right-wing extremism once peddled daily by the 45th president has found its methadone: a seemingly endless stream of QAnon-centric documentaries, books and essays.
Politico MAgazine
In its latest lurch to the far right, Denmark plans to send some refugees back to Syria
It felt like paradise when Dania and Hussam first moved to Denmark. They did not speak a word of Danish yet the Scandinavian country was an outpost of calm for the siblings, who fled the destruction and death that followed the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
CNN
AE's counter-terrorism, extremism initiatives highlighted at International Parliamentary Conference
The Federal National Council (FNC) Parliamentary Division presented the country’s counter-terrorism and extremism initiatives and efforts at the virtual International Parliamentary Conference on the Global Challenges and Threats in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Terrorism and Violent Extremism, organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).
Emirates News Agency
Gunman in 2001 New Paltz shooting told parole board he became extremist, was a 'terrorist'
he gunman in the June 2001 shooting rampage through the village of New Paltz told a state parole board that in the years leading up his crime, he was a "selfish, narcissistic, depraved and indifferent person" who had become radicalized by "anti-government" and "anti-police" literature he found at gun shows and that he had "fantasies ... of going out in a blaze of glory, attacking the police in some sort of apocalyptic battle with the police and authority."
Daily Freeman
‘Europe’s racists hide behind freedom, democracy in Islamophobia’
Europe’s racists hide behind words like freedom and democracy to incite violence against Muslims, Turkey’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun stated on Saturday, calling on the international community to “extinguish the fire of hate with Islam’s message of peace.”
Daily Sabah
Inciting ethno-religious animosity has become a means of survival for parts of Sri Lanka’s political elite
On March 13, Sarath Weerasekara, Sri Lanka’s minister of public security, announced that the government will ban wearing of the burqa and close more than 1,000 Islamic schools in the country. The minister was quoted as saying that “the burqa” was a “sign of religious extremism” and has a “direct impact on national security”.
Sunday Island
Terrorism shouldn’t be linked to sectarian schools: Moosvi
The Patron-in-Chief of Supreme Shia Ulema Board Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya, Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, has said that terrorism should not be linked to sectarian schools, provinces and areas to justify sympathy for the enemies of humanity.
The International News
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BARMM
[Opinion] The BARMM timetable: Another COVID casualty?
The Philippines today faces dire challenges from the COVID-19 and regional security — violent extremism and Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea, among others. We from Muslim Mindanao worry that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will again be the last priority. This will surely be counterproductive.
Business World
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
High Profile BIFF Commander and 5 followers yields to JTF Central
The 4th Division Commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Bungos Faction, Abunawas Ibad Damiog, together with his 5 armed followers voluntarily surrendered to the leadership of the Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division under Major General Juvymax R. Uy PA on April 17, 2021.
Kalinaw News | NDBC News
NHCP exec director and former Cotabato City Mayor Ludovico "Vic" Badoy (1951-2020)
Former Cotabato City and former executive director of National Historical Commission has died due to lingering illness. He was 69. He was suffering from severe pneumonia and Covid-19 positive.
NDBC News
LANAO PROVINCES
2 buildings turned over to Tubod LGU
LANAO DEL NORTE Gov. Imelda “Angging” Quibranza-Dimaporo spearheaded the turnover ceremony of the two business community and cooperative buildings to the local government unit (LGU) of Tubod, led by Mayor Leoncio Capangangan Bagol. The buildings are located in Barangay San Antonio. uring the event, Quibranza-Dimaporo expressed her sincere appreciation to Bagol for his incessant efforts in providing effective and transparent service to the constituents.
Manila Times
BASILAN
SULU
Egyptian allied with Dawlah Islamiyah killed in Sulu encounter
One of the five remaining foreigners allegedly allied with the Dawlah Islamiyah in Sulu was killed in an encounter along with two other militants in Patikul, Sulu last Friday night, the military said.
Mindanews
TAWI-TAWI
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DRUGS
Operations/ Incidents
P2.8-M shabu seized, 6 suspects nabbed in Bacolod buy-busts
Some PHP2.82-million worth of suspected shabu was seized while six suspects were arrested by various drug enforcement teams in four separate buy-bust operations in this city in the past two days.
Philippine News Agency
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
2 killed, 2 wounded in Pangasinan gun attack
Two were killed while two others were wounded in a shooting incident at noon on Sunday, April 18, in Umingan town, Pangasinan province.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
2 die, 3 hurt as vessel catches fire in Zambo City
Two people died while three others were wounded when a wooden-hulled vessel loaded with some 150 drums of fuel caught fire late Friday night here. Maj. Chester Natividad, Zamboanga City Police Office’s (ZCPO) Station 11 chief, said the fire broke out around 10:20 p.m. while the vessel, M/L Saidamae, was moored at a private wharf in Barangay Baliwasan.
Philippine News Agency
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
Dabawenya wanted for syndicated estafa nabbed in Cebu
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) nabbed a 46-year-old woman wanted for syndicated estafa during operations in Cebu.
Philippine News Agency
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Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
Interview with Chiara Zambrano: “I’m not out there for the thrill. I’m out there for the voices”
Chiara Zambrano has had one too many challenging coverages in her 17-year career as a journalist. She’s been to conflict areas from Basilan to Sulu to Marawi. Her recent experience being chased by missile-carrying China vessels in the West Philippine Sea is one for the books.
ANCX
Martial Law
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COVID-19
PH logs 10,098 new COVID-19 cases, more than 72,000 new recoveries
The Philippines on Sunday reported 10,098 more COVID-19 cases, pushing the country's cumulative total to 936,133. The Department of Health also announced 72,607 additional recoveries, the highest reported in a day, according to the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team, bringing the total number of people who have recuperated from the infectious disease to 779,084.
ABS- CBN News
Cases
Department of Health
PH sees biggest rise in recoveries with over 72K new survivors
The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported 72,607 new recoveries, pushing the total of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) survivors nationwide to 779,084.
Philippine News Agency
DOH biosurveillance detects 642 cases of new Covid-19 variants
The Department of Health (DOH), University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) on Sunday reported the detection of additional 266 B.1.1.7 variant cases, 351 B.1.351 variant cases, and 25 P.3 variant cases.
Philippine News Agency
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Regions
Luzon including NCR
Taguig eyes more mall-based vaccination hubs
More vaccination hubs will be put up in various malls in Taguig after the city government forged partnership agreements with four companies.
Philippine News Agency
Visayas
Bacolod mayor inoculated to boost public trust in AstraZeneca
Mayor Evelio Leonardia took his first shot of AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine on Saturday afternoon to show his constituents that the European brand is safe.
Philippine News Agency
Mindanao
World
Young and infected: COVID-19’s new patients as India battles huge surge
Ajay Singh Yadav only managed a final video call with Raj Karan before his close friend became the latest of an alarming number of young Indians, including children, falling victim to the new coronavirus wave sweeping the country.
Phttps://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1420695/young-and-infected-covid-19s-new-patients-as-india-battles-huge-surge
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
[Editorial] What COVID-19 home care entails
We have been living in the nightmare created by COVID-19 for over a year. But the last month or so, said Jaime Almora, president of the Philippine Hospital Association, is “the worst nightmare of a hospital manager happening in reality.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Duterte appoints 8 Napolcom senior officials
President Rodrigo Duterte has named eight senior officials of the National Police Commission, who took their oath of office earlier this week, Napolcom said.
Manila Standard
[Opinion] Duterte’s frequent absences a grim reminder of Marcos’ tricks to hide illness
President Rodrigo Duterte’s frequent public disappearances followed by staged photos to dispel rumors about his health recall the waning years of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.
ABS- CBN News
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Robredo hits ‘business-as-usual’ lockdown, urges govt to admit COVID lapses
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday hit what she called “business-as-usual” lockdowns, which she said were not accompanied by increased testing, contact-tracing, or aid to hospitals affected families.
ABS- CBN News
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
‘Walang kaluluwa:’ Lacson warns DA ‘corruption’ also threatens nat’l security
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday slammed those behind alleged corruption within the Department of Agriculture (DA), saying this not only threatens the country’s food security but also national security.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Redefining Philippine Taxation: CREATE
Said to be the first-ever revenue-eroding tax reform package and the largest economic stimulus program in the country’s history, Republic Act No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act was signed by the President on March 26. It amends our tax and incentives laws with the goal of helping businesses move into their post-pandemic recovery while encouraging foreign investment.
Business World
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
Government dropped the ball in the IT-BPM industry
The country’s Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry faces serious threats from the widespread use of chatbots (or bots) and artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, the Duterte administration has not acted fast enough to help the industry pivot.
Business World
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
51 quakes in Taal Volcano recorded in last 24 hours; alert level 2 stays
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 51 quakes in Taal Volcano in the last 24 hours, indicating continued unrest in the volcano.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Typhoon Bising slightly weakens
Typhoon Bising slightly weakened and decelerated while moving west northwestward at 15 kilometer per hour (kph) over the Philippine Sea east of Catanduanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency
Residents urged to stay vigilant as ‘Bising’ grazes Bicol
Malacañang on Sunday urged the public to remain vigilant and follow quarantine protocols as Typhoon Bising (international name "Surigae") maintains strength while passing close to Bicol Region.
Philippine News Agency
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
No truth to ‘generals’ withdrawal of support for PRRD
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday denied online posts claiming that a group of retired and active military officers are withdrawing their support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Philippine News Agency
Philippine National Police
EDUCATION
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
DICT boosts e-governance, e-services to improve PH’s ease of doing business
To improve ease of doing business in the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is committed to strengthening its e-governance and e-services initiatives that cater to the local business sector.
Backend News
ELECTION RELATED
[Opinion] Battle of political titans in the 2022 polls looms in GenSan
General Santos City is no stranger to epic electoral contests. In fact, sensational and emotion-laden electoral contests had already happened twice in this southernmost tip of the country.
Mindanews
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
TUPAD workers tapped as contact tracers
The cash-for-work program Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) may now be utilized by other local government units (LGUs), aside from the National Capital Region (NCR), to help curb the spread of Covid-19 through contact tracing.
Philippine News Agency
OFWs in Korea given 1-year extension of stay
The period of stay and employment of overseas Filipino workers in Korea who are under the Employment Permit System (EPS) and whose contract term expires within the period April 13, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021 will be extended to one year effective April 13.
Philippine News Agency
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Solon eyes ‘1 Pinoy, 1 bank account’ for efficient aid giving
To ensure the efficient and prompt delivery of future government financial assistance programs, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian broached the idea of having each Filipino owning one bank account.
Philippine News Agency
Community pantries a sign of ‘desperation’ — Lacson
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said the community pantries that popped up in some parts of Metro Manila may be considered a “sign of desperation.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Go lauds inclusion of media workers in A4 vax priority list
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has underscored the role being played by the frontline media workers in the information dissemination amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Philippine News Agency
House of Representatives
Bill seeks tax perks to Covid-19 vax donors for teachers, kids
Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) has filed a bill seeking to grant lucrative tax benefits to private corporations and wealthy individuals who will sponsor the Covid-19 vaccination of the 933,000 teachers and 23 million children in the public school system.
Philippine News Agency
Solon urges employers to suspend ‘no work, no pay’ policy for COVID-19 patients
Ang Probinsiyano Rep. Alfred de los Santos urged employers on Saturday to suspend the “no work, no pay” policy for workers who had contracted COVID-19.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
West Philippine Sea
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Despite struggles, fishermen donate surplus catch to QC community pantry
Despite struggling to survive in the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, several Filipino fishermen have banded together to donate their surplus catch to a community pantry along C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City on Sunday (Apr. 18).
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
DHSUD program pushes for climate-resilient homes
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is pushing for a housing microfinance strategy that will grant low-income families access to climate-resilient homes at affordable costs.
Philippine News Agency
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
AirAsia PH to vaccinate 1,500 employees starting next month
The Philippine unit of regional low-cost carrier AirAsia is targeting to vaccinate over 1,500 Filipino employees beginning May as it gears up for a travel rebound. Keeping its optimism that air travel would soon regain its momentum, AirAsia Philippines said it has secured COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate its employees.
CNN Philippines
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
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