What crisis?
THE people in Malacañang, the Palace of the People, don’t consider it a “transportation crisis” that fewer LRT trains are running and passengers find themselves squeezing into buses and jeepneys like sardines with legs, or that MRT trains bog down as a matter of habit.
— Tempo
7 cadets, 5 PMA personnel charged
Seven cadets and five officers of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) have been charged with murder and violation of the anti-hazing law in connection with the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.
— Manila Times
Sotto, Gordon: Ex-police official’s allegation vs. Albayalde a big one
A former police official’s allegation against Philippine National Police chief Police General Oscar Albayalde stunned Senate Blue Ribbon chair Richard Gordon, while Senate President Vicente Sotto III said it could damage Albayalde’s credibility if true.
— GMA Network
African swine fever creeps into more Quezon City barangays
The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that African swine fever (ASF) has affected more barangays in Quezon City .
— Rappler
500 foreign workers nabbed in Parañaque anti-fraud raid
Hundreds of foreign nationals working in the Philippines without appropriate permits were arrested by police and immigration officials Wednesday night.
— CNN Philippines
World Bank urges PHL, other countries, to nurture GVC growth to boost productivity, reforms
The growth of global value chains (GVCs) is slowing and countries adjust by speeding up customs and reducing border delays, according to the World Bank.
— BusinessMirror
Hidden costs, bribes root of business woes–Neda
HIDDEN costs and under-the-table payments are the root causes of the dissatisfaction of businesses when availing of government frontline services in the Philippines, according to a study conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
— BusinessMirror
Thai and Philippine firms lead revival in S-E Asia IPOs
Thailand and Philippine companies are leading a regional pick-up in initial public offerings (IPOs), spurred by growing investor interest in firms focused on Southeast Asian consumers.
— The Straits Times (extremely annoying popups)
PH health care, infra, institutions among worst in the world – WEF
The Philippines slipped 8 notches in the 2019 Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF) .
— Rappler
What the President’s Russia trip revealed
President Duterte visited Russia for the second time to broaden and deepen ties with the world’s largest country—Russia occupies one-tenth of all the land on Earth—in all areas of cooperation from security and defense to trade and investment,
agriculture, energy, science and technology, and socio-cultural exchanges.
— BusinessMirror
Peza gives up, supports revamp of tax incentives
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has given up on its fight to exempt thousands of companies in economic zones from a controversial tax package that will rationalize tax incentives.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer
American troops begin annual military exercise with Philippine, Japan forces
More than 2,000 U.S. and Philippine military personnel, along with a small contingent of Japanese forces, began annual combat exercises on Wednesday aimed at responding rapidly to crises and natural disasters and underscoring their commitment to keep the region “free and open.”
— Spratly Islands
BSP backs tax amnesty, lifting bank secrecy law
THE Department of Finance (DoF) has secured the support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on a general tax amnesty measure that would also allow the government to break the walls of bank secrecy in fraud cases.
— Manila Times
Duterte under heavy fire for jet purchase
President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte is under heavy fire from militant groups and Filipino commuters who are experiencing hardships due to what they called a worsening “transport crisis.”
— Gulf Today
Senators grill Albayalde on how a ‘ninja cop’ got a juicy post
Philippines – Senators are dumbfounded as to why Major Rodney Baloyo IV, who was among the alleged 13 Pampanga rogue cops, was assigned to a juicy post.
— Rappler
NEDA calls for people-centered gov’t frontline services
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) urged government agencies to consciously put people — clients and workers alike — at the center of their frontline services to further improve the ease of doing business and government service delivery.
— Philippine News Agency
PH to take ties with Korea ‘further, forward, upward’: Locsin
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. reaffirmed to strengthen bilateral ties between the Philippines and South Korea, as both countries celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations with each other.
— Philippine News Agency
MinDA chief calls for collaboration of national agencies
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol has urged members of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region 11 (ARENA-11) to closely collaborate on planning and implementing development programs and projects in Davao Region.
— Philippine News Agency
This startup is revolutionizing ecommerce logistics with data analytics
To say that the Philippines is a big country is an understatement. With 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities spread across more than 7,000 islands, the archipelago is home to over 100 million people packed in a 300,000 sq km land area, making it the eighth most populated country in Asia.
— TechInAsia
Philcoman endorses the country’s P130-trillion road map construction target
THE Philippine Council of Management (Philcoman), one of the oldest federations of professionals dedicated to the development of management and improvement of management practices in all aspects of Philippine society, has endorsed the country’s P130-trillion road map target of the construction industry.
— BusinessMirror
Cebu to get richer as Capitol moves to reassess value of real properties
Cebu province, the country’s richest with real assets standing at P34 billion, may get wealthier this year as the Capitol moves for the reappraisal of all its real estate properties to match with current market values.
— CDN
LTFRB to demand bus companies to assist LRT2 passengers
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will soon demand bus companies to deploy the required number of units to transport commuters affected by the shutdown of 3 Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2) stations.
— Rappler
LRTA has no disaster recovery plan, exec admits
The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on Wednesday admitted that it has no disaster recovery plan to follow in cases like the burning of power rectifiers which recently halted the operations of LRT Line 2.
— GMA Network
Gordon: Albayalde recommended himself, 13 of his men for promotion, awards over 2013 Pampanga raid
Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde recommended for promotion 13 of his men for the 2013 Pampanga raid, Senator Richard Gordon said.
— Eagle News
MMDA’s Pialago files cyber libel raps vs admins of 2 social media sites allegedly spreading fake news
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority spokesperson Celine Pialago has filed complaints against the administrators of two social media sites she said had spread fake news.
— Eagle News
‘Zip it,’ Sotto tells Malacañang officials questioning ‘ninja cops’ probe
Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday, October 9, opened the Senate blue ribbon hearing with a statement that he hoped would finally clear the air on why the probe had evolved from the good conduct time allowance law to rogue cops involved in recycling seized illegal drugs.
— Rappler
Pinay slave in US wants to come home
AN 81-year-old Filipina, apparently a victim of modern-slavery in the United States, will be reunited soon with her family in Tacloban City, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.
— Manila Times
5 things to know about African swine fever
Amid the spate of cases of African swine fever (ASF) virus in the country, many Filipinos have become wary about eating pork. In his Tuesday report for Brigada, Joseph Morong listed five facts about ASF to avoid misconceptions and confusion.
— GMA Network
Highest-ranking PMA cadet resigns over Dormitorio’s death
The highest ranking cadet of the whole Philippine Military Academy (PMA) resigned from his post on Wednesday, October 9, following the death of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.
— Rappler
Sandiganbayan denies Ligot family’s plea to dismiss P55-M forfeiture case
The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal of former military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his family members to dismiss the P55-million forfeiture case due to lack of merit.
— GMA Network
IP leaders relieved over Salugpungan schools’ closure
The indigenous people (IP) leaders in Mindanao can now heave a sigh of relief upon learning the news on the closure of 55 Salugpungan Schools in the Davao Region by the Department of Education (DepEd).
— Philippine News Agency
Angkas offers free rides to LRT-2 commuters
Angkas Motorcycle Ride Service is offering free rides to commuters who were affected by partial shut down of Light Rail Transit-2.
— Philippine Information Agency
NEDA says simplified gov’t transactions lead to improved PH’s WGI
Government efforts to streamline and simplify transaction periods and requirements for government services paved the way to the country’s climb in the 2018 Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), the National Economic and Development Authority said.
— Philippine News Agency
Clark Dev’t Corp creates Crisis Mitigation and Resilience Office
Clark Development Corporation creates a Crisis Mitigation and Resilience Office to promptly mobilize personnel in preparing and responding to any crisis situation in the Freeport.
— Philippine Information Agency
Lawmakers back expansion of PHL foreign policy recalibration with Duterte Russia trip
LAWMAKERS on Tuesday backed the expansion of the Philippines’s foreign policy recalibration under President Duterte, who recently announced the government’s plan to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with several countries in the next three years.
— BusinessMirror
Top casino execs to meet in Manila in December
The Philippines will be hosting one of the most highly anticipated gambling exhibitions later this year, a move that positions the country to be the top gaming destination in the region.
— Rappler
Joint Senate panel orders release from detention of Bansil, Buño
The joint Senate panel looking into the problems in the Bureau of Corrections has ordered the release of two BuCor personnel they had cited for contempt for supposedly lying.
— Eagle News
Valdez, Laure lead 2019 SEA Games PH women’s volleyball lineup
Alyssa Valdez will see action for the third straight Southeast Asian Games, while University of Santo Tomas star Eya Laure will also debut in the seniors squad.
— Rappler
Pangasinan town exec proposes ‘adopt a surrenderer’ project
Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil of this town plans to reintegrate drug dependents here who surrendered themselves for reformation through a project called ‘Adopt a Surrenderer’.
— Philippine News Agency
Borongan City dad donates 728 K for TESDA skills training
Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda donated some P728 thousand for the skills training of TESDA E. Samar.
— Philippine Information Agency
Duterte invites Russian oil giant to explore in West Philippine Sea
President Rodrigo Duterte has opened the door for a Russian firm to explore for oil and gas in Philippine waters being claimed by China.
— Rappler
Masbate town vice mayor dies in Manila ambush
A Masbate vice mayor was shot dead on Wednesday morning, October 9, while having breakfast outside a house in Manila.
— Rappler
BFP slammed for causing delay in LRT2 fire investigation
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) came under fire on Wednesday, October 9, for not being able to release any findings on the the fire that caused damage to Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2) rectifiers , 6 days after the incident happened on …
— Rappler
Manila City closes Isetann Mall for misrepresentation, lack of permits
The Manila City government on Wednesday, October 9, ordered Isetann Mall to be closed after it discovered the mall was violating city ordinances and misrepresenting its applications for permits.
— Rappler
Why fashion designer Chico Estiva ‘took the risk’ with Leren Bautista’s national costume
Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2019 Leren Bautista’s Maranao princess-inspired national costume for the Miss Globe 2019 pageant made headlines — but did you know that they almost went with another concept?
— Rappler
Duque wants review of Local Government Code to renationalize healthcare
Renationalizing the Philippine healthcare system could help address gaps in the country’s delivery of health services, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
— Rappler
SC warns Robredo, Marcos camps: Stop talking about the case
The Supreme Court (SC) warned the camps of Vice President Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos against issuing public statements on the electoral dispute involving them and which the justices are expected to decide on next week.
— Rappler
Supreme Court rules: Gov’t nurses should be salary grade 15
After 4 years, government nurses finally won their case when the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that their salary grades should be at 15 and not 10-11.
— Rappler
Should a law protecting battered husbands be passed?
A bill seeking to penalize the abuse of male partners and children was recently filed at the House of Representatives. In his Brigada report on Tuesday, Oscar Oida asks: Does the country need this bill?
— GMA Network
The makings of a Filipino seafarer
According to Cedric Castillo’s story on Brigada, aspiring seamen are required to undergo basic safety training and water survival training. Brigada visited a maritime training center in Santa Rosa, Laguna which currently has around 100 students enrolled.
— GMA Network
4 observances launched this Oct.
Government workers from national and provincial offices here kicked-off the observance of the 30th National Statistics Month (NSM), Consumer Welfare Month (CWM), Indigenous Peoples Month (IPM) and the National Elderly Month on October 1 with a motorcade.
— Philippine Information Agency
Panelo accepts challenge to commute to work
After initially rejecting a youth group’s dare to take mass transport to experience the daily plight of commuters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he will accept the challenge.
— Philippine News Agency
Relieved PMA hospital chief maintains Dormitorio only had UTI
The former commanding officer of the PMA’s hospital stands by its diagnosis that Darwin Dormitorio only had a UTI when he was brought there by ambulance a day before his death.
— GMA Network
Who will sit as the next PNP chief?
Weeks before the retirement of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde, names of police officials who may replace him in his post have started to surface.
— GMA Network
Gordon: Inaction on 2013 dismissal order vs. Albayalde’s men shows his wide influence
Then-Region 3 Police Regional Director Aaron Aquino’s inaction on the dismissal order against 13 policemen in 2013 proves that then-Pampanga provincial police chief Oscar Albayalde successfully strong-armed him to spare his men from liability, Senator Richard Gordon said.
— GMA Network
Bayan Muna rep’s attitude vs. IPs very disconcerting: Parlade
A ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) on Wednesday said he finds it odd that Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat continues to pin the blame on the military the abuses committed against the indigenous peoples (IPs) even when they are telling the whole world that the atrocities are the handiwork of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
— Philippine News Agency
RTF-ELCAC III gains ground vs insurgency
Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict III (RTF-ELCAC III) has been gaining ground in its fight against insurgency.
— Philippine Information Agency
San Juan mayor goes after stolen phones sold at Greenhills but spares 2nd-hand gadgets
On the heels of Mayor Isko Moreno’s move against the sale of stolen phones in Manila, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora has followed suit and inspected a popular shopping center in his city to check if illegally acquired gadgets are being sold.
— GMA Network
LOOK: BuCor, police demolish shanties in Bilibid
Riding a Special Action Force (SAF) armored vehicle, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag led the demolition of shanties inside the New Bilibid Prison on Wednesday, October 9.
— Rappler
In a twist, PEZA now supports Citira bill
After episodes of name-calling and tongue-lashing among members of the government’s economic team, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board has flip-flopped and now supports the controversial tax package that seeks to rationalize tax incentives.
— Rappler
DFA urges Filipinos going to Saudi Arabia: Follow rules on public decency
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, October 9, advised Filipinos traveling to Saudi Arabia to follow new …
— Rappler
Albayalde: I will fire ‘ninja cops’ if reinvestigation shows wrongdoing
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said on Wednesday, October 9, that he will fire his former subordinates – the so-called ninja cops in the controversial 2013 Pampanga drug raid – if the reinvestigation of the case shows they should be …
— Rappler
P5-M halfway house for ex-rebels to rise in Ilocos Norte
The construction of a halfway house for former rebels in the province of Ilocos Norte is expected to break ground here before the year ends.
— Philippine News Agency
Feature photo Sulu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
This week’s Philippines morning news feature photo focuses on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, October 13.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
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#Independentmedia
Governance, not government; policies not politics.

John Le Fevre
He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.
He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.
In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.
Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.
In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

Latest posts by John Le Fevre (see all)
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 26 — 16 mln case barrier breached, Vietnam records community transmission – July 26, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 25 — new high for daily infections, 16 mln infection barrier to break today – July 25, 2020
- COVID-19 in Asean: update for July 24 — Asean tops 230,000 cases, nudges 90,000 active – July 24, 2020
- Thailand morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020