Batangas court junks case, orders release of store owner wrongly accused as NPA officer
A Batangas court has quashed the search warrant and ordered the release of a sari-sari store owner whom police and the military accused of being a New People's Army (NPA) intelligence officer, based on a copy of a May 6 court order released to the media.
ABS-CBN News
Detained peace consultant asks SC: What could be basis for designation as terrorist?
A “perplexed” peace consultant of the National Democratic Front has manifested to the Supreme Court his designation as a “terrorist” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) despite being detained since December 2018.
ABS-CBN News
NPA owes billions in indemnities, NTF-ELCAC spox says
The New People’s Army (NPA), and officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), collectively referred to as a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) may be compelled to indemnify victims of their human rights abuses and atrocities in the number of billions, a spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
Say no to NPA recruitment, finish studies, ex-rebel tells youth
Recruited into the armed movement while still a public school student in a remote barangay of Sibalom, Antique, a 22-year-old surrenderer has advised the youth to finish their studies so as not to experience the hardships of hiding in the mountains.
Philippine News Agency
20 ex-rebels complete biz dev’t training
Some 20 former rebels under the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) Tabara-Paduano Group (TPG) have been trained to improve their entrepreneurial and management skills to help with their businesses.
Philippine News Agency
Peace talks
Incidents/Operations
NPA rebel falls in Bulacan drug buy-bust
A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was arrested in a buy-bust operation by joint police and military forces in Barangay Anilao, this city on Tuesday.
Philippine News Agency
|
|
MARAWI
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD
Researchers shed light on the evolution of extremist groups
Findings suggest new strategies to limit the growth of groups like the Boogaloo and ISIS
Early online support for the Boogaloos, one of the groups implicated in the January 2021 attack on the United States Capitol, followed the same mathematical pattern as ISIS, despite the stark ideological, geographical and cultural differences between their forms of extremism. That's the conclusion of a new study published today by researchers at the George Washington University.
EurekAlert
We Must Stand Down on Extremism and Polarization in the US Military to Safeguard National Security
Now infamous photos of men armed in Kevlar vests and helmets, holding zip-ties on the Senate floor, convey how dire the situation was at the Capitol. Among the different military branches, the Marine Corps led the charge with fourteen arrests, followed by the Army with ten. As a Marine Corps judge advocate, images of servicemembers storming the Senate floor were disturbing. Why were so many veterans eager to participate in the riot and abandon the oath they took years prior?
Chrged Affairs
Strategic extremism: 4 insights on the U.S. Capitol siege from established insurgencies
In the coming weeks, trials will begin for more than 400 people accused of attacking the United States Capitol. Was the siege chaotic, impromptu and disorganized, or was it the work of a well-planned force of far-right militias, as mounting evidence suggests? Can an attack be both chaotic and planned?
National Post
Mental health tests in the presence of counter-terror units ‘unethical’, says charity
Mental health assessments are being conducted in the presence of police in little-known hubs that embed nurses and psychologists with counter-terrorism units, raising “serious ethical concerns”, a medical charity has said
The Guardian
Joint force role for Sahel highlighted at UN
United Nations, May 19 (Prensa Latina) UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, highlighted the role of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) in the fight against violent extremism.
Prensa Latina
Forced Sterilisation: Uyghurs Shrinking Population
She was already beyond child-bearing age, but Qelbinur Sedik says Chinese authorities still forcibly sterilised her, part of what she describes as a systematic campaign to suppress births of Uyghurs and other minorities in the tense Xinjiang region.
The ASEAN Post
Germany bans three Hezbollah-affiliated groups in anti-terrorism crackdown
German authorities outlawed three organizations accused of fundraising for Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah Wednesday, as Middle East tensions produced a ripple effect across much of Europe.
i24News
|
|
BARMM
House adopts amnesty resolutions for rebel groups
The House of Representatives on Wednesday gave its concurrence to President Rodrigo Duterte's proclamations granting amnesty to members of four major rebel groups.
Philippine News Agency
Analyst acknowledges BARMM growth prospects
A keen observer of Southern Philippines development trends has recognized the capacities of Muslim Mindanao to ultimately overcome its backwater history to pursue long-lasting stability and full progress.
Philippine News Agency
Darul Ifta issues Islamic guidance for protection of women, girls
Abuhuraira A. Udasan, Grand Mufti of the Bangsamoro region, formally turned over to the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) represented by Member of Parliament Bainon Karon the Islamic Guidance on the Community Protection of Women and Girls on May 17, 2021 at the Darul Ifta office.
Philippine Information Agency
World Bank launches trust fund to ‘normalize’ BARMM
Washington-based multilateral lender World Bank on Wednesday launched a multi-donor trust fund for the “normalization” of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
GMA News
BARMM passes Education Code
posted May 19, 2021 at 10:10 pm by Nash B. Maulana
The Bangsamoro Parliament approved on Tuesday the Education Code of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, establishing a “complete and integrated quality education system for the future of the region’s children and youth.”
Ma ila Standard
Duterte Threatens ‘All-Out Offensive’ After More Violence in Mindanao
A recent spike in clashes is threatening a fragile peace between the Philippine government and Moro Muslims in Mindanao.
The Diplomat
MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY
BARMM monitors flooding in several Maguindanao towns
Personnel of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (BARMM-READi) are on standby to respond to emergencies brought about by Tuesday's flooding in several towns of Maguindanao.
Philippine News Agency
Nearly 1K Maguindanao plantation farmers get aid from DSWD
At least 976 banana plantation workers in Maguindanao have received relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development–Region 12.
Philippine News Agency
LANAO PROVINCES
BASILAN
SULU
246 candidate soldiers undergo training in Sulu
TWO hundred forty-six candidate soldiers are undergoing rigid training in the province of Sulu for enlistment into the military service.
Sunstar Zamboanga
TAWI-TAWI
|
|
DRUGS
Operations/ Incidents
7 nabbed in Zambo anti-drug ops
Authorities arrested seven people in separate anti-drug operations in this city and nearby Zamboanga del Norte province, a top police official said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
3.5 kilos of marijuana seized from 2 'pushers' in Pampanga
Over 3.5 kilos of marijuana worth PHP420,000 were seized from two suspected drug peddlers in a drug sting in Mabalacat City, this province on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
Cebu City cops nab farmer for selling 1kg marijuana
Elements of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Wednesday arrested a farmer who sold a kilo of dried leaves of locally-grown marijuana to a poseur buyer during a buy-bust operation in an upland village here.
Philippine News Agency
1 killed, 2 nabbed in Nueva Ecija anti-drug ops
A suspected drug peddler was killed in a firefight with operatives of the municipal police here during a buy-bust operation on Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
Recovery and Rehabilitation
ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, AND AMMUNITION
CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING/ COUNTERFEIT GOODS
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
KIDNAPPING/ ABDUCTION
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS/ EXTORTION
|
|
7M hectares of Philippine land are forested — and that’s bad news
The country has been vulnerable to massive flooding linked to deforestation. The coronavirus pandemic is also a catastrophe that arose from populations occupying wild animal habitats.
Kodao Productons
CARP implementers told to hasten land distribution for ARBs
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones has reminded all Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implementers in the region to do their utmost best to hasten the land acquisition and distribution process for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB).
Philippine News Agency
|
|
Gov’t readies fresh charges vs. IP kids’ abductors
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) rebuked the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military wing, the New People's Army (CPP-NPA), for gloating too much over the dismissal of criminal cases filed against seven of their comrades who were arrested during the rescue operations for Indigenous People (IP) students inside a Cebu City university earlier this year.
Philippine News Agency
Tboli culture through music
BLAGON Gunog Antog, popularly known in the Tboli community as Mà Blagon, is a rare musical master for his tribe. He acquired his musical abilities as early as five years old. He learned to play Tboli instruments through observation and community immersions.
Sunstar Davao
|
|
Kin of Joseph Canlas file raps vs police, jail authorities for ‘criminal negligence’
The family of Joseph Canlas filed criminal and administrative charges against officials of the police and jail management this morning, May 19, stating that the death of the peasant leader “resulted from the inaction of the respondents.”
Bulatlat
Pro-active doable measures to protect and save lives of prisoners
Kapatid seeks to join hands with you all to continue pressing government agencies for expedient, positive, humanitarian action for the benefit of prisoners, including political prisoners, amid the continuing pandemic. Tao rin sila, may karapatang makaligtas sa pandemya.
Bulatlat
Press Freedom/ Freedom of expression
Martial Law
|
|
|
COVID-19
Cases
Department of Health
DOH: Metro Manila got one-third of COVID-19 vaccines
Metro Manila, an urban sprawl that is home to some 12 million people, has received about one-third of the Philippines' total COVID-19 vaccine supply so far, an official of the Department of Health said on Wednesday.
ABS- CBN News
No more brand disclosure before jabs, refusal means back in line
The strategy is expected to prevent a repeat of long queues for Pfizer vaccines at vaccination sites in Parañaque City and Manila earlier this week, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during an online briefing.
Manila Standard
Do People Need To Know Which COVID-19 Vaccine They're Getting? One Country Says No
The Philippines' Health Department says it will no longer allow local governments to announce which brand of coronavirus vaccines will be available at inoculation sites. The move comes after hundreds of people this week lined up at a site in Manila when they found out the Pfizer vaccine would be given out there.
National Public Radio (NPR)
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Regions
Luzon including NCR
P13-M supply of Tocilizumab for Covid-19 cases arrives in Manila
The city government of Manila received on Tuesday an additional 500 vials of immunosuppressive drug Tocilizumab that it had purchased for severe coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients, according to Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.
Philippine News Agency
Visayas
Antique capital rolls out 2nd dose of Covid-19 jabs
Health workers and senior citizens in this capital town of Antique province received their second dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines starting Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
Mindanao
2 councilors, 11 village chiefs quarantined in South Cotabato for possible Covid-19 infection
Two municipal councilors and 11 barangay chairpersons of Surallah town in South Cotabato have been quarantined after being identified as close contacts of another local government official who has contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Mindanews
World
Diplomatic, Development and Private Sector
ll Covid-19 jabs safe, effective regardless of brand: expert
A health expert on Wednesday urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) regardless of the brand, as these are all safe and effective.
Philippine News Agency
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
COVID-19 vaccine rollout is nowhere from high gear
It has been two months since the Philippine government began its vaccine rollout but the country is far from inoculating at least one percent of the population as public hesitancy on vaccine efficacy and safety remains.
Bulatlat
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Duterte thanks Japan for COVID-19 assistance in phone call with Suga
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday thanked the Japanese government for its assistance to the Philippines amid the coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang said.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
SC acquits PADC exec over cash advance case from 2006 China trip
The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted and reversed the Sandiganbayan conviction of a Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (PADC) official over his failure to liquidate his cash advances for his foreign trip in 2006.
Philippine News Agency
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
Franchise tax on ‘e-sabong’ pushed
Salceda seeks to institutionalize cockfighting to collect more revenues for gov’t
House ways and means committee chair and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda is pushing to slap a franchise tax on “e-sabong” to institutionalize cockfighting, an industry which is currently informal hence generating “suboptimal” revenues for the government.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tax take from marked fuel hits P229.5B, Dominguez says
A total of 23.59 billion liters of oil generated P229.5 billion in revenues as of mid-May under the government’s fuel marking program, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
Remittances not enough to revive spending, economists say
Despite resilient remittance flows ensuring dependent households have money to spend amid a prolonged pandemic, economists said COVID-19 containment would play a bigger role in reviving weak consumer spending.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
Construction of first-ever long distance tunnels in PH starts in July – DPWH
Construction of the country’s first-ever two long distance tunnels in Davao City by the first week of July this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced Tuesday.
Mindanews
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Villagers displaced as flashfloods hit GenSan, South Cotabato
Flashfloods swept through villages in nearby General Santos City and in several towns in South Cotabato province before midnight Tuesday following torrential rains hours prior.
NDBC News
No downtrend in Taal Volcano activity: Solidum
There is no downtrend in the overall condition of Taal Volcano, which has been under Alert Level 2 (increased unrest) since March 9, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Renato Solidum Jr. said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
AFP chief to Nolcom: Keep watch on maritime waters
ARMED Forces chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana has ordered the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) to continuously ensure that the country’s maritime waters in the northern part of the country are secured and safe for Filipino fishermen, as he lauded the command for its success in its counterinsurgency operations.
Business Mirror
Philippine National Police
EDUCATION
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ELECTION RELATED
Senate tackles common problems in politicians’ campaign spending
The overspending practices of many politicians—like “under-the-table” payments for radio advertisements or “cheating” the declaration of their campaign spending—came to light during Wednesday’s Senate deliberation of a bill seeking to raise the cap in the allowable poll expenses of candidates.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Comelec wants higher priority for poll personnel in vax drive
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it would ask the national government to allow its personnel to be moved to a higher notch in the A4 priority listing of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program.
Philippine News Agency
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
LABOR
POEA to deploy 400 caregivers to Israel
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced that some 400 home-based caregivers are bound for Israel this month despite the conflict in the Jewish state.
Philippine News Agency
Injuries, death linked to work-from-home now compensable: ECC
Workers who sustained injuries or have died while working from home are now entitled to benefits from the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).
Philippine News Agency
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Lacson eyes sale of assets from 'mismanaged' GOCCs
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday urged Malacañang to conduct an inventory of high-value assets owned by government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) that continue to receive state subsidies and consider these for possible sale.
Philippine News Agency
Senate OKs bill amending retail trade liberalization law
The Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to lower the required paid-up capital for foreign retail enterprises before they can enter the Philippine market.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
House of Representatives
House minority to ensure proper impeachment process vs. Leonen
The minority bloc in the House of Representatives will ensure that "proper procedure" will be followed in tackling and deciding on the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
Philippine News Agency
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
PRRD correct not to take arbitral award to UNGA: Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Tuesday the Duterte administration is right not to take the 2016 landmark arbitral ruling on the South China Sea before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) because it is already part of the international law and doing so would only risk turning Manila's loss of possession into Chinese right.
Philippine News Agency
West Philippine Sea
Panelo exempted from gag order over WPS issue
President Rodrigo Duterte is also authorizing Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo to issue statements on the Philippines’ long-standing dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Philippine News Agency
AFP sees no problem with PRRD gag order on WPS
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it does not see any problem with President Rodrigo R. Duterte's order preventing other members of the Cabinet from publicly discussing the West Philippine Sea issue.
Philippine News Agency
DFA rejects China's unilateral 'fishing ban' in South China Sea
The Philippine government on Tuesday night firmly rejected China's unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea, saying it violates Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights.
Philippine News Agency
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
TESDA, Nestle partner to train farmers become agripreneurs
Over 400 farmers in coffee-producing areas of Mindanao will benefit from the all-expense paid training of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Nestlé Philippines Inc.
Philippine News Agency
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
New bus routes seen to boost Mindanao economy
The opening of new bus routes in Mindanao will further reopen economic activities in the island’s regions, the chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-in Region 10 (LTFRB-10) said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency
TOURISM
1.3M tourists visit Region 12 from January-March
Over 1.3 million domestic and foreign tourists visited parts of Region 12 (Soccsksargen) in the first quarter of the year as tourist destinations gradually reopened amid the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Mindanews
WATER and ENERGY
New concession deal ‘win-win’ for all stakeholders: MWSS
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Chairman and Acting Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said the new concession agreement between the government and the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is “a big step towards water supply security”.
Philippine News Agency
|
|
|
|
|
