Philippines Morning News For February 22

Philippines to court: Declare communist groups as terrorists
Justice officials asked a court Wednesday to formally designate the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist groups in a move that could further damage chances of a resumption of stalled peace talks.
— The Washington Post

Britain sold spying gear to Philippines despite Duterte’s brutal drugs war
The British government sold £150,000 of hi-tech spying equipment to the Philippines, giving President Rodrigo Duterte the tools to hunt down and kill dealers and addicts as part of his brutal war on drugs.
— The Guardian

Malaysia arrests 10 suspects for helping militants enter southern Philippines from Sabah
Malaysia’s counter-terrorism police have arrested 10 people – seven Filipinos and three Malaysians – for smuggling militants into the southern Philippines, via Sabah, to join Islamic State groups over there.
— Channel NewsAsia

Philippines hopes for Free Trade Pact with US
Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry has expressed hope for the start of formal negotiations for a free trade agreement with the United States in one to two years, noting that talks have so far remained “exploratory.”
— Fresh Plaza

Philippines government exploring Alibaba’s technology solutions
The ARC is equipped with the latest technologies to support the flipped classroom pedagogy, wherein students learn the course content online before class and the face time with professors and classmates is devoted to collaborative learning.
— Open Gov Asia

Philippines rejects US intel report branding Duterte threat to democracy
The Philippines on Wednesday rejected a US Intelligence Community (IC) report branding President Rodrigo Duterte a threat to democracy and human rights in the region.
— Arab News

Sanofi again denies Dengvaxia refund request as Philippine officials prep lawsuit
After two refusals from Sanofi to provide a refund for the controversial Dengvaxia program, officials in the Philippines say they are left with no options but legal action.
— Fiercepharma

Philippine officials to visit Kuwait amid worker row
Philippine officials are headed to Kuwait on Thursday, February 22, to seek greater protection for migrant workers after a diplomatic row over the alleged mistreatment of Filipinos in the Gulf state.
— Rappler

PSG has no right to threaten Rappler – Defense chief
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana slammed the threats made by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Chief against a Rappler reporter.
— CNN Philippines

TRUMP LIKES RODRIGO DUTERTE MUCH MORE THAN U.S. INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, AND THE PHILIPPINES IS CONCERNED
Officials in the Philippines lashed out on Wednesday, saying that they are very concerned with a recent U.S. intelligence report that labeled its strongman President Rodrigo Duterte a threat to regional democracy.
— Newsweek

Japanese SMEs could help boost PH growth
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to pitch for Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), saying their innovations and technology could help support the Philippines’ development needs.
— The Manila Times

UAE biggest source of GCC remittances to Philippines in 2017
The value of remittances, or money sent home by Filipinos in the UAE to friends and family back home, grew to significant levels in 2017, thanks in part to favourable exchange rates.
— Gulfnews

Australian man given life sentence in Philippines for child trafficking and pornography charges
A Philippine court has sentenced an Australian man to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on human trafficking and child pornography charges.
— ABC

PH economic growth to stay strong
Philippine growth will likely remain at 6.7 percent in the next two years on the back of strong domestic demand and increased investments, an economic and policy analyst said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

MILF chief warns of another Marawi-type siege by pro-IS jihadists
During a talk at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum in Manila on Tuesday, MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said his rebel group was battling with pro-IS group for influence in schools as the jihadists worked to infiltrate madrasas (Islamic religious schools) and secular universities.
— Thai PBS

May electricity bills to reflect reduced system-loss charge
Consumers will start feeling the impact of the modified cap on the allowable rate of system losses that can be passed on to consumers in their May electricity bills.
— BusinessMirror

DOTr: 15 MRT trains running after Holy Week
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has given assurance that as many as 15 trains will be running on the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) line by April once the scheduled overhaul of the system is completed during the Holy Week break.
— Philstar

DoF firm on net worth requirement for insurers
Insurance companies should merge if they cannot comply with mandatory net worth requirements, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd said, noting the need for a stronger and more competitive domestic industry.
— The Manila Times

House body approves divorce bill
The House committee on population and family approved yesterday the consolidation of four bills to grant divorce and dissolution of marriage to give troubled couples a less expensive legal way out.
— Philstar

Philippines, Kuwait drafting deal to ensure workers’ safety
THE Philippines and Kuwait are eyeing a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to ensure protection for Filipino workers in the Gulf nation, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said on Wednesday.
— The Manila Times

De Lima urges shielding of human rights defenders
“It is imperative that Congress look after their welfare with the growing number of attacks against them under the Duterte administration,” De Lima said
— Manila Bulletin

Feature photo Fabio Achilli

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Philippines morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines Morning News For February 22 added by Leakhena Khat on February 22, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.