MARAWI CITY, Philippines – In the village of Olawa Ambulong in Marawi, Isha* and her adoptive daughter Fatima* are recovering from the war that destroyed large swathes of their city. 

But the turmoil does not end for Isha and Fatima. Three days into the New Year, Fatima learns her relatives have sealed her marriage to a man 8 years her senior. And her mother – a child bride herself – is powerless to stop it. (READ: Too young to marry)

Rappler’s Mara Cepeda tells the story of child brides in Marawi. – Rappler.com

*Names changed to protect their identities

It's turned into a verbal joust.

Two days after Senator Grace Poe claimed that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is using the lack of emergency powers as an excuse for failing to do its job, she added insult to injury by aiming at its chief, who himself did not mince words in retaliation.

In an ABS-CBN News Channel interview on Thursday, September 12, Poe claimed that she was "not there to make people look bad" right after saying that transport chief Arthur Tugade's performance was not up to standard.

She earlier lambasted the transport agency for its shortcomings, such as not being able to operate a single one of the 48 Dalian trains until now.

She stood pat on the DOTr's role in solving the traffic problem: that even if the agency does not handle the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police's Highway Patrol Group, it still controls regulatory bodies such as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

"It's really [about] leadership by determination and by follow-up and focus, which [Finance Secretary Carlos] Dominguez apparently had," Poe said, echoing her sentiments from the Senate hearing on the provincial bus ban last Tuesday, September 10.

Poe had compared Tugade to Dominguez, saying the transport chief was not as active in lobbying for emergency powers as the finance secretary was in pushing for the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Tugade, however, didn't take Poe's criticism sitting down.

'Bilib sa sarili'

"Sus, masyadong bilib sa sarili. Pati ba naman posisyon ko pinakikialaman niya? (She's so full of herself. She'll go so low as to stick her nose in my position?) I serve only at the pleasure of the President. Not subject to the whims, caprice, and theatrics of misguided politicians," said Tugade's scathing reply, as relayed by DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran.

In fact, the DOTr released a few statements with regard to Poe's remarks, first saying that traffic management does not fall under the DOTr's mandate – even if Tugade would be appointed traffic czar if emergency powers were granted.

The DOTr then slammed Poe's claim that it is not doing its job, listing projects under the Duterte administration. These include airports and commercial ports, as well as railways under construction.

"Madam Senator, hindi ho ugali ni Secretary Tugade ang matulog sa pansitan. Kaya nga ho nagpapatupad ang kagawaran ng 24/7 construction at nagpapairal ng partial operability timelines dahil mismo sa kagustuhan niyang makapaghatid agad ng serbisyo publiko sa transportasyon sa mga Pilipino....'Yan po ang aming kalihim. Trabaho, gawa, at hindi puro salita," said the DOTr.

(Madam Senator, Secretary Tugade is not in the habit of slacking off. That's why the department commits to 24/7 construction and implements partial operability timelines because the Secretary wants to provide public transportation services to Filipinos immediately. That's our secretary: he works hard, he takes action, he isn't all talk.)

In another statement, the DOTr reiterated that Tugade "will not allow himself to be used as 'props' for political theatrics."

Will that be the end of it?– Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Ambassadors have been flocking to the office of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to pay him a courtesy call after he assumed office on June 30.

The envoys made it a point to commit to being a part of his vision of a new Manila, all too familiar with the story of how it had deteriorated from being once a sterling city of Asia to what some writers have called the entrance to hell.

And Moreno listened intently.

The shared histories between the Philippines and its allies were mirrored by the eagerness to help of ambassadors from the United Kingdom in the West to China in the East. Appreciative of this gesture, Moreno told them he would continue with what he has started – to achieve what he promised when he ran for mayor: that Manila will rise again.

As of September 15, Moreno has met with 13 ambassadors, all of them expressing their country’s commitment to Manila. We document them in this story.

1. United Kingdom Ambassador Daniel Pruce

The first to visit Moreno in his City Hall office was United Kingdom Ambassador Daniel Pruce.

During their meeting, Pruce offered the UK’s assistance in urban planning for the capital city. “There’s so much beauty, there’s so much history,” Pruce said.

In later interviews with reporters, Moreno said Pruce committed to helping open up more green spaces in Manila, aside from the already-endangered Arroceros Forest Park.

While the British embassy sits in the southern metro city of Taguig, the British share a deeper history with Manila, given the 20 months they occupied it between 1762 and 1764. The brief occupation was the culmination of the so-called “Seven Years’ War” between Britain and Spain.

In his conversation with Moreno, Pruce also committed to opening up more exchange programs with Manila’s universities – Universidad de Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – for their students to study in the United Kingdom with waived or discounted fees.

2. Panama Ambassador Rolando Alvarado

On July 19, just two days after Pruce’s visit, came Panama Ambassador Rolando Alvarado. Moreno also welcomed him in City Hall.

During their meeting, Alvarado stressed the importance of Filipinos in the global economy. He pointed out that around 60% of crew members in their ports and ships in the Panama Canal are Filipinos. (READ: Pinoy sailors send home record $6.1B in 2018)

“It’s something I always wanted to promote, how important they are for my country,” Alvarado told Moreno.

Alvarado said their ties could further deepen by holding “cultural exchange” programs. Like the Philippines, Panama was under the colonial rule of Spain for over 300 years.

He then proceeded to praise Moreno for his “energy” as a local chief executive.

Alvarado concluded his visit by handing Moreno a “mola” cloth, textile made by indigenous peoples in Panama. Moreno thanked him and asked his staff to frame the gift.

3. Japan Ambassador Koji Haneda

On July 22, came Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda.

While Japan is known for its futuristic application of technology for local government, Haneda advised Moreno on how to lure more Japanese tourists to the capital: improve Intramuros.

“I think that can be a magnet for Japanese tourists. When Japanese visit Manila, they want to do culture,” Haneda said.

And he said no other country has a shared history with Japan when it came to Christianity. An icon of the Japanese Christians in Manila is the samurai Takayama Ukon, who was exiled in Manila for his faith.

Ukon is remembered with a larger than life statue at the center of Plaza Dilao, which marks the historic neighborhood in Manila where thousands of Japanese stayed during the Spanish colonial era.

“The trail where he stayed can be an asset I’m going to promote,” Haneda said. Moreno replied, “You promote, I protect.”

Before leaving, Haneda gifted him with a polished clay plate, commemoratively made for the arrival of the Japanese Reiwa period.

4. Saudi Arabia Ambassador Abdullah Al-Bussairy

The next visit came from Saudi Arabia Ambassador Abdullah Al-Bussairy on August 5.

Bussairy focused their conversation on labor and Moreno’s pace as a mayor.

“It’s a very beautiful city,” Bussairy said of Manila, as Moreno was ranting about his frustrations about the city's revival.

Bussairy then stressed how his country valued Filipinos, saying that around one million of them are already working in Saudi Arabia – most of whom are domestic workers vulnerable to abuse.

Moreno said he hopes that the number rises to “two million” and that Saudi Arabia would take in “skilled workers” too.

5. Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz

Israel Ambassador Rafael Harpaz visited City Hall the same day as Bussairy on August 5.

Harpaz praised Moreno about his work style.

“In Filipino, you say dahan-dahan (slowly). You don’t know dahan-dahan. It’s bilis-bilis (fast). I like it,” Harpaz said.

Harpaz also reminded Moreno of the continuing settlement of Jews in Manila. Most of them stay in Makati, where their synagogue stands. But because Manila is the capital city, many of them still go by Moreno's jurisdiction.

“Filipinos have high expectations for you,” he said.

After Moreno said he has never visited his country, Harpaz invited him to visit Israel to learn how its cities have rapidly grown in the past decades.

He then committed to extending educational assistance to two Manila schools: the Rosauro Almario Elementary school and the Tondo High School.

6. Singapore Ambassador Gerard Ho

Singapore Ambassador Gerard Ho visited on August 8. Moreno was especially eager about his visit as one of his revered statesmen is late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

In his conversation with Ho, Moreno lamented that Manila has been left behind by its other city neighbors. He traced the problem to the lack of urban planning.

“I don’t think we have a 10-year plan. I think our plans are not yet intertwined,” Moreno said.

He said his experience with Manila is a far cry from that of Singapore, which saw a meteoric rise, thanks to its goals. Returning Moreno’s compliments, Ho said, “I think you know what you are doing.” Nevertheless, he added that they are “ready to share.”

“Ask us if you need any help. We have areas of expertise in traffic management, sewages, but you have to see what works for you because you cannot blindly apply,” Ho said.

Moreno asked for help then and there. He said that the had a “dream” of addressing flooding in Manila. (LOOK: Heavy rain floods areas in Metro Manila)

“I think in a million light-years we will arrive there, but with your help (Singapore's) we will get there,” Moreno said.

7. Russia Ambassador Igor Khovaev

On August 13, Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev dropped by Morenos’ office, carrying one message.

“Mr Mayor, my message is very simple. It’s to establish new ties between Moscow and Manila. I think there is good opportunity for that,” Khovaev immediately said after they traded pleasantries.

Khovaev then described Moscow as a “dynamic” city where Moreno can learn much. Moreno said he wanted to learn about sustainability, causing Khovaev to perk up.

“Moscow hosts an energy summit,” he said. He then invited Moreno to the next one in October, to which Moreno said he would attend.

“It’s an opportunity for you and your counterpart to see what should be done for Manila and Moscow,” Khovaev said.

He added: “If you have any proposal for the integration between our two capitals, please don't hesitate.”

Moreno replied: “The same is offered by Manila.”

8. European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen 

European Ambassador Franz Jessen presented Moreno a challenge when they met on August 14.

“I hope that the Mayor would bring that back to Manila and make it the best city to live in,” Jessen said, referring to the return of cleanliness in the capital.

Jessen invited Moreno to go to Europe and see for himself how cities in the continent handle their trash problems.

The EU ambassador said they have been trying hard to help local governments in Manila to clean the Pasig River, but efforts have been derailed. “We need to be very consistent to be able to succeed,” Jessen said.

With the Pasig River slowly becoming cleaner, Jessen then pitched for the cleaning up of Manila Bay, which has been placed under rehabilitation on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.

9. New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan

New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan also went to City Hall on August 14, with all praises for Moreno.

“He has made such a dynamic start,” Strachan said.

Strachan said New Zealand, like Manila, is focused on improving ease of doing business to attract more investors. New Zealanders flock to their cities like Auckland and Wellington, which, like Manila, are harbor cities.

Strachan also told Moreno that his country would be ready to help with disaster preparedness efforts, as New Zealand frequently deals with floods.

“They are knowledgeable with disasters. We can learn from them,” Moreno said in an ambush interview after the meeting.

10. Australia Ambassador Steven Robinson

Australia’s Steven Robinson had the most immersive visit.

They began at City Hall, with each of them giving short speeches, then proceeded to the Arroceros Forest Park.

Australia has been one of the biggest aid donors to the Philippines for disaster and warfare. In his visit, Robinson said the country is interested in how Manila will grow under Moreno.

“We have been talking about his plans for the future, which are impressive indeed,” Robinson said.

For about 20 minutes, Moreno toured Robinson in the so-called last lung of Manila. During the tour, Robinson pitched areas where they could help in rehabilitating Arroceros Forest Park.

The tour concluded in a dining hall near the park where they sang the classic song, Manila, by the former Hotdog band, with a crowd cheering them on.

11. Georgia Ambassador Irakli Asashvili

Georgian Ambassador Irakli Asashvili visited on August 21 and focused his advice on ease of doing business.

He told Moreno that they made the processing of documents easier, particularly passports, attracting more businesses to invest in their country.

Georgia, like the Philippines, is classified as a developing country. The two celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations in 2017, with calls to “affirm commitment” in supporting each other.

“After we reformed the policy, we attracted investors in Georgia, and we are proud to say we are one of the top 10 countries to do business in Europe,” he said.

He added: “You cannot have reforms and development when you have interruptions.” Asashvili also invited Moreno to Georgia, which calls Tbilisi its capital.

12. China Ambassador Zhao Jianhua

The latest ambassador to visit Moreno was Zhao Jianhua, who met with Moreno on September 12.

Of all the ambassadors, he was the only one who brought a check to the meeting, specifically a P20-million check pooled from Chinese businessmen and intended for the rehabilitation of a bridge near the Pasig River.

Zhao stressed that under President Rodrigo Duterte, the opportune time has come to revisit ties between Manila and Beijing – capitals that also call each other sister-cities.

“Our relationship will be more vibrant. Rest assured we will do our best to deepen our friendship so that we can help you carry out your grand program,” Zhao said, referring to Moreno’s dream for Manila.

Zhao said China continues to hold interests in the capital, especially because it is home to the oldest and biggest Chinatown in the world: Binondo.

“This indicates we have a profound, solid foundation for friendship and cooperation,” he said.

Moreno thanked Zhao for his promises, and said he hoped that he would also see how Manila “wakes” again. “We really have to wake up the sleeping dragon. It used to be a dragon, but because of politics, we hibernated, while our neighboring cities developed,” Moreno said.

13. United States Ambassador Sung Kim

A unique case in this list is United States Ambassador Sung Kim, who received Moreno instead of visiting him on July 12.

Kim, the ambassador of the Philippines’ former colonizer and longest-standing ally, met Moreno at the US embassy, which is located along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Kim called Moreno a “rockstar” for his frontline-style of government which landed him frequently in the headlines and the evening news during his first weeks in office.

Weeks later in August, the US embassy sent a contingent from its Commercial section to Moreno to ask how they could help in his vision of building a smart city.

According to Moreno’s chief of staff Cesar Chavez, they want the US’ help in doing plans and studies, as large portions of the city were designed by Americans during their occupation. – Rappler.com

Claim: The peso-dollar exchange rate during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos was at P1.50 to P2 per dollar, a sign of a better economy compared to today.

Various Facebook pages and groups have posted online that Marcos' governance strengthened the local currency against the dollar. This claim is usually included in a long list of supposed “achievements” of the late dictator.

We've identified, through CrowdTangle, the following pages and groups that posted such claims:

Foreign exchange rate at P1.50/$1

• Ka Rex Canayong (page)
• Duterte FB Global Warriors (group)
• NUEVA ECIJA'S PRIDE [in ka dito ka novo] (group)
• BONGBONG MARCOS PILIPINAS SOLID GROUP""FOR PRESIDENT MOVEMENT 2022 (group)
• Pres. Duterte And Vp Marcos Global Supporters (page)
• H-World UN-PI Region 4A (page)

Foreign exchange rate at P2/$1

• Pinoy Rap Radio (page)
• Memories of Philippine History (group)
• REAL PHILIPPINE HISTORY (group)
• Raffy Tulfo Supporters (page)

Rating: FALSE

The facts: Official data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shows the Philippine peso was already valued at P3.91 per dollar when Marcos came into power in 1965. By the time he was ousted in 1986, one dollar was equivalent to P20.46 – depreciating by 423.46%. (READ: Marcos years marked 'golden age' of PH economy? Look at the data)

BSP data has traced the monthly average of currency exchange rates since 1945, but the Philippine peso never appreciated against the dollar to the P2 level during the entire Marcos administration. The last time the local currency reached P2 was in January 1962, 3 years before Marcos took office. (READ: FALSE: Philippines was ‘richest country in Asia’ during Marcos years)

Post-World War II, the exchange rate was maintained at P2 per dollar for 15 consecutive years, or until 1960. It's the highest level the Philippine peso has ever reached since 1945. – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have revised the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Good Conduct Time Allowance law (GCTA law), responding to public outcry over the near-release of high-profile convict Antonio Sanchez.

The new IRR of Republic Act 10592 or the GCTA law now categorically excludes heinous crime convicts like Sanchez from the benefits of the GCTA Law.

Here are the salient amendments in the new IRR:

1. Recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, those charged with heinous crimes and an accused who, upon being summoned for the execution of his sentence has failed to surrender voluntarily before a court of law, are excluded from good conduct time allowance under RA 10592 (Section 2, Rule IV)

2. Prisoners disqualified under RA 10592, such as heinous crime convicts, but who were convicted before the law became effective in 2013 shall be entitled to good conduct time allowance under the Revised Penal Code (2nd paragraph, Section 1, Rule XIII)

3. Prisoners disqualified under RA 10592, such as heinous crime convicts, and who were convicted after the law became effective in 2013, shall not be entitled to any type of good conduct time allowance (3rd paragraph, Section 1, Rule XIII)

4. Heinous crimes are the same heinous crimes defined under Republic Act 7659 or the now-repealed death penalty law. It is the DOJ's view that RA 7659 was repealed only insofar as imposing the death penalty, but not the definition of heinous crimes (Section 1n, Rule II)

5. To increase transparency, the Management, Screening and Evaluation Committee (MSEC) shall publish the list of prisoners who may be qualified for release on 3 conspicuous places within the jail premises and/or uploaded in their respective websites subject to the Data Privacy Act (Section 3c, Rule VIII)

6. The MSEC shall invite representatives from accredited civil society organizations to appear as observers during deliberations (Section 4, Rule VIII)

7. To encourage sustained good behavior, the new IRR says accrued time allowances shall be granted at the end of the prisoners' 2nd year, 5th year, 10th year, 11th year and every year thereafter (Section 2, Rule IX)

However, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra recognized that the law itself said GCTA shall be granted on a monthly basis. Guevarra said a revised manual would further discuss this section, and would define certain types of offenses that could disqualify a prisoner from GCTA, in order to encourage sustained good behavior. The DOJ and DILG joint committee has been given another 60 days to complete the revision of the manual.

8. The grant of time allowances to a disqualified prisoner, whether under the previous or present Rules, shall not extinguish criminal liability (Section 1, Rule X)

Here is a copy of the revised IRR:

RA 10592 Revised IRR by Lian Nami Aloen Buan on Scribd

– Rappler.com

(UPDATED) When President Rodrigo Duterte made the comment before government officials at Malacañang's Rizal Hall on Tuesday, September 17, not few wondered whether they had heard him right. Did he actually admit that?

While ranting about his frustrations over corruption and drug problems in the country and other personalities who had become regular fixtures in his speeches, he suddenly talked about the failed ambush attempt on former mayor Vicente Loot of Daanbantayan, Cebu, last year.

“General Loot, putangina mo nanalo pa ng barangay – mayor. Inambush kita, animal ka, buhay pa rin (General Loot, you son of a bitch, you even won as barangay – mayor. I ambushed you, you animal, but you're still alive)," he said.

In his first month as Chief Executive, Duterte accused Loot of involvement in the drug trade, which the then-mayor denied. Loot survived an ambush attempt in May 2018. 

The President's latest statement was markedly different from what he had claimed in another public speech in December 2018 – that it was former interior secretary Mar Roxas who had ordered the hit on Loot. At the time, after the media reported the President's allegation against Roxas, his spokesman quickly dismissed it as just another Duterte "joke."

On Wednesday, September 18, a day after the media reported Duterte's "admission" that he had Loot ambushed, Panelo used the Bisaya card to explain the President's statement.

"'Inambush kita, buhay ka pa' is uttered by a Bisaya President who is not proficient in Pilipino, the vernacular language used in the capital city of Manila and in most areas in Luzon," Panelo said in a statement sent to media.

According to the interpretation of Panelo, what the President meant to say was, "Inambush ka na, buhay ka pa (You were ambushed, yet you're still alive).”

"It is silly and absurd to conclude that PRRD is behind the ambush just because he misspeaks the Pilipino language which is not his native tongue or first language," Panelo said.

Panelo had used the same excuse to explain what then seemed to be Duterte's admission in September 2018 – a year ago – that his "only sin" is extrajudicial killings. 

Perhaps the Chief Executive should just stick to speaking in English in public events? But then again, Malacañang would likely just dismiss his controversial statements as jokes or misinterpreted, no matter how straightforward they may sound. Remember how the previous spokesman did this?

But then again, whether it was a joke or something supposedly misspoken, Senator Panfilo Lacson– who was among those mentioned in Duterte's rant on September 17 – offered some sound advice, when asked for comment on the President's "admission" regarding the former mayor.

"Midway into his term, we should already be familiar with his penchant for saying something as serious as that and dismissing it as a joke afterwards. Joke or not, Mayor Loot would be better off minding his physical security 24/7," Lacson said.  – With a report from Aika Rey/Rappler.com

Claim: Senator Risa Hontiveros supposedly called for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte by staging another EDSA People Power Revolution. 

The website pinastrends.xyz posted a blog entry on September 14 with a title that read:

“Look: Honteviros, Nanawagan Ng Edsa People Power Para Patalsikan Ang Pangulo Sa Pagiging Diktador! (Look: Hontiveros called for EDSA People Power to oust the president for being a dictator!)

The same claim was posted by newsboxesph.blogspot.com on August 29. 

The claim was spotted through CrowdTangle, a tool that identifies trending content on Facebook. As of writing, the claim has been shared on Facebook 79 times, accumulating total interactions (shares, reactions, and comments) of 13,3117.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: Hontiveros never made this statement.

In a message to Rappler, Hontiveros' office denied the claim and said, “the senator respects the legal processes of the government.”  

The Senate's official website has not published any press release in relation to this alleged statement by Hontiveros. Rappler checked for news reports on the senator's statements but none contained a call for Duterte's ouster through people power.

Rappler asked the Facebook page Duterte News Trends – the newsboxesph.blogspot.com's account – for their source of the statement. But they did not reply. They did not also specify in their post where the statement was made. The website does not contain any other information about how their authors can be reached. 

The websites pinastrends.xyz and newsboxesph.blogspot.com have spread false claims before. Rappler previously fact-checked their claim that Leni Robredo spent over P200 million for her LA trip. 

Both websites have a disclaimer typical of many hoax sites Rappler has fact checked. The disclaimer says, "Contributed articles does (sic) not reflect the view of duterteglobalnews.blogspot.com. This website cannot guarantee the legitimacy of some of the information contributed to us. You may do additional research if you find some information doubtful." – Glenda Marie Castro/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.  

Claim: The proposed 2020 National Expenditure Program (NEP) does not provide for a salary hike for public school teachers.

Website DepEd Click said in an article that despite getting the lion’s share in the proposed 2020 national budget, the department has no provision for a salary increase for teachers.

DepEd Click posted the article on September 3, 2019 and got over 4,000 shares, 5,000 comments, and 18,000 reactions as of writing. Social media monitoring tool CrowdTangle identified 7 Facebook pages and 10 groups that shared the article on Facebook.

Among the pages that had the highest Facebook interactions are Supporters of Magdalo and Gary Alejano, LP Manila-Team Lagalag, and No To Marcos Burial At Libingan NG MGA Bayani.

Rating: MISLEADING

The facts: While there is no line item in the proposed 2020 budget for a salary increase for teachers, there is an allocation for compensation adjustment for all government employees, including public school teachers. It is part of the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund (MPBF).

The MPBF was the same fund used in increasing the base pay of the police and military in 2018.

In the proposed 2020 NEP, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earmarked P31.1 billion for “payment of compensation adjustment” for all civil servants under the MPBF. The budget department has also said that it will submit to Congress in October a proposal for a fresh round of salary increases for civilian government workers in 2020.

However, the proposed amount for civil servants’ salary adjustment in 2020 is 39.8% lower than the P51.7-billion allocation in 2019.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) criticized the proposed allocation, saying that it is not enough for public school teachers to have a “substantial, reasonable, and living wage.”

Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones had earlier clarified that she is not against salary hikes for teachers but stressed that all government workers should be taken into consideration, in addition to the country’s present fiscal capacity. – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

MANILA, Philippines – Inabandona man ni Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ang pagbuhay sa anti-subversion law, gusto pa rin niyang ma-criminalize ang pagiging miyembro ng Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). 

Mangyayari ito kung maipapasa ang batas na gustong ipanukala ni Año sa Kongreso para malabanan ang CPP at iba pang diumano'y front organizations nito.

Ngunit maraming grupo ang tumutuligsa sa balak na ito dahil, ayon sa kanila, maaari itong magamit  sa war on dissent o paghabol sa mga kritiko ng pamahalaan. (READ: Creating a Marcos? Reviving the anti-subversion law under Duterte)

Sa podcast na ito, pag-uusapan ng police reporter na si Rambo Talabong at researcher-writer Jodesz Gavilan ang iba't ibang isyung nakapalibot sa pagsugpo sa mga komunista, ano ang balak gawin ng gobyerno, ano ang implikasyon sa karapatang-pantao ng mga mamamayan kung ituturing na krimen ang pagiging komunista, at ano ang mga problemang maaaring umusbong mula rito. 

Ang Newsbreak: Beyond the Stories ay isang podcast series ng Rappler tungkol sa mahahalaga at malalaking isyu sa Pilipinas. – Rappler.com

Top photo by Alecs Ongcal/Rappler

Pakinggan ang iba pang episodes ng Newsbreak: Beyond the Stories:

• Inciting to sedition sa ilalim ni Duterte
• May silbi ba ang diplomatic protest laban sa China?
• Ang batas na puwedeng magpalaya sa rapist-murderer na si Antonio Sanchez
• Makakalusot ba si Ronald Cardema ng Duterte Youth sa Kongreso?
• Impunity in the West Philippine Sea
• Sino si Bikoy at dapat ba siyang paniwalaan?
• Bakit mahalagang mailabas ang Tokhang documents?
• Ang doble-plaka law bilang panakip butas sa mga patayan
• Ang alas ni Eduardo Acierto laban kay Michael Yang
• Ano ang dapat mong malaman tungkol sa Metro Manila water crisis?
• Ang pagkalas ni Duterte at Pilipinas sa Int'l Criminal Court

Claim: Former president Ferdinand Marcos built the first airport in Asia, as part of his long list of achievements during his 20-year term.

Social media monitoring tool CrowdTangle identified at least 6 Facebook pages and groups that shared the claim on the social media platform, with the oldest post dated August 2018.

Overall, their posts got more than 35,000 shares, 34,000 reactions, and 6,600 comments as of writing. These posts are still being shared by several users across the platform as of September 2019.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: The oldest operating airport in Asia is in Bangkok, Thailand. Don Mueang International Airport officially opened on March 27, 1914 – 3 years before former president Ferdinand Marcos was born.

In the Philippines, there are also records of airports operating even before World War II. According to the Filipinas Heritage Library, Nielson Airport was the first principal airport in Luzon, and was inaugurated on July 17, 1937. There was also Grace Park Airfield, which started operations in the 1930s.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s main airport and formerly known as the Manila International Airport, also already existed before Marcos took office. It used to be a US Air Force base until 1948 and was then converted for commercial purposes. – Pauline Macaraeg/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.

Claim: Senator Bong Revilla supposedly proposed to make Culion Island in Palawan the next Bilibid prison.

The Facebook page TRAPOlitics posted on September 10 a purported Manila Bulletin front page with a headline that reads, "Revilla eyes Culion, Palawan for the next Bilibid prison." 

In its caption, the page claimed that the senator supposedly made this proposal during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

The quote says:

“Masyado ng congested ang Bilibid. I suggest we transfer it to Palawan. Dati na ring exile colony ang Culion island. Magandang lugar ito para paglipatan ng mga bilanggo. It’s the Alcatraz of the Philippines.”

(The Bilibid is too congested. I suggest we transfer it to Palawan. Culion island used to be an exile colony. It would be a good place to transfer prisoners. It's the Alcatraz of the Philippines.)

The Facebook post did not specify when the supposed Manila Bulletin headline was released. Apart from the headline and the main photos, the rest of the page was blurred. 

The claim was sent to Rappler through email for a fact check. The post garnered combined reactions, comments, and shares of over 1,880.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: Revilla did not propose to make Culion Island in Palawan the next Bilibid prison. The photo of the Manila Bulletin frontpage in the post was manipulated to include Revilla's photo, a photo of Culion Island, and a fictitious headline. 

Revilla attended the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA Law) on September 2. (READ: LIVE: Senate hearing on the GCTA law and Antonio Sanchez) 

While he spoke and asked questions during the hearing, Revilla did not mention anything about a supposed proposal for a high maximum prison in the island of Palawan. 

Instead, he grilled Bureau of Corrections (BuCOr) Chief Nicanor Faeldon over the photo of Sanchez which went viral following reports of his release. The photo, which included Sanchez and his daughter Councilor Ave Marie Tonee "Amty" Sanchez-Alcid, was supposedly taken in a hospital facility outside the prison.

Manipulated frontpage photo

The Manila Bulletin confirmed with Rappler that they did not publish a story with the headline as claimed. 

By searching through manilabulletin.pressreader.com – the digital edition of Manila Bulletin– Rappler found what appears to be the issue that had some stories and photos similar to the ones in the TRAPOlitics post. Released on July 4, 2016, this issue contained the following stories and features similar to the headlines blurred in the manipulated photo:

• China to hold drills in disputed seas ahead of int'l court ruling (bottom center)
• Story entitled "Tropical storms nearing PH" (bottom right)
• Similar photo for the Lifestyle section (bottom left corner)

The image below shows a side-by-side comparison of the real front page vs the one in the digitally-manipulated photo:

The blurred headline below Revilla's picture, which reads, "PH needs own Department of Homeland security, says DILG," was an ABS-CBN article published on September 9, 2019. A Google search yielded no results for the headline of the article at the center, which reads: "Bilibid is already congested I suggest we transfer it to Palawan."    

The idea of having an island prison is not new. In 2016, Senator Tito Sotto proposed a secluded prison in Palawan for convicted drug criminals. The idea resurfaced after Senator Miguel Zubiri filed a bill seeking to establish a special prison facility for those convicted of heinous crimes. 

Senate Bill No. 1004, which proposes the creation of a heinous crimes penitentiary – preferably in an island to prevent the prisoners from escaping or from having unwarranted communication outside – does not specify which island should be used. (READ: Zubiri wants Alcatraz-type 'heinous crime penitentiary') 

The bill was filed in the wake of heated discussions on the botched release of rape and murder convict Antonio Sanchez. – Glenda Marie Castro/Rappler.com

Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.  

MANILA, Philippines – Tucked away in the basement of a castle in the English countryside once used to film the Harry Potter movies, the "Mother of all Philippine maps" resurfaced when severe flooding forced the Duke of Northumberland to sell among other heirlooms, the 1734 Murillo Velarde map.

The stroke of serendipity meant the map would finally find its way back to the Philippines after centuries. Businessman Mel Velarde – prompted by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio – bid P12 million for the prized artifact and won during a Sotheby's auction in 2012.

Considered the most important map of the Philippines, the 1734 Murillo Velarde map – named after its cartographer Jesuit priest Pedro Murillo Velarde – defined in vivid detail the territory of the country nearly 300 years ago. It continues to do so until today. 

After all, a spotlight was put on the map after it played a crucial role in the Philippines' case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. The map had been entered as evidence for the Philippines as it showed Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal (named "Panacot" on the map) has been part of the Philippine territory as far back as nearly 3 centuries ago. 

Unlike the Philippines, China has not been able to produce a map older than this one, showing the shoal in its territory. With less than 20 copies worldwide, the Murillo Velarde map is also extremely rare and valued as the first scientific map of the Philippines. (READ: Ancient maps support PH claim over Scarborough)

But for historian Ambeth Ocampo, it's about time the Philippines considered renaming it. Why? Because Padre Murillo Velarde was not the only person behind the creation of the map.

What should it be called? Ocampo suggested calling the Murillo Velarde map the “Velarde-Bagay” instead.

According to Ocampo, the map is important not only for its rarity, but also because it tells us one story about who we are as Filipinos. Ocampo said while the map is largely known to have been drawn by Velarde, what's been mostly forgotten is that it was engraved and printed by a man named Nicolas dela Cruz Bagay, who signed himself an "Indio Tagalo" on the map.

"The most important map of the 18th century is called the Murillo Velarde map, which I hope, will be renamed the Velarde-Bagay map," Ocampo said.

"While traditionally the map should be named for the cartographer, because we're Pinoy, we should highlight the Philippine contribution. The man may have drawn a map but without the Indio who signed, you will have no beautiful map," he added.

For Ocampo, renaming the map to include both its creators gives credit to whom it is due.

"The map shows you not just the territory but much, much more," he said.

What else is in the map? Aside from laying out Philippine territory, the map also earned praise from historians, scholars, and cartographers throughout the world for depicting a capsule history of the Philippines and what life was like here in the 18th century.

Images of different types of vessels sailing in Philippine waters and the ports of Manila, Zamboanga, and Cavite, show the country's maritime culture, which many Filipinos often forget, Ocampo said. With over 7,641 islands (according to the National Mapping Resource and Information Authority) the Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world.

Meanwhile, 12 vignettes that decorate the sides of the map showcase Philippine products and the daily life of Filipinos. Foreigners who were in the country at the time, such as Persians, "Cafres” (Africans), Indians, Chinese, and Japanese, among others, attest to the Philippines as a rich trading port, too.

"What's important about the map is that in the 18th century, you'd think we're a backwater [place but] Manila was not," Ocampo said.

Apart from this, the map also showed important waterways that connected different islands and told stories of how places were named. For instance, Luzon, Ocampo said, came from "lusong" or mortar, as the image of a woman pounding rice illustrated the tradition of pounding rice by hand.

Meanwhile, the prized map also depicted not just Panacot Shoal but other maritime features in Philippine territory which were then called Galit (anger) and Lumbay (sorrow). Ocampo said the names were such to guide sailors about dangers, like being shipwrecked, if they were to venture into the areas unknowingly.

For all its richness and the stories it depicts about the Philippines, Ocampo said it's worth remembering that the map was made by more than just its cartographer.

In the same way, at a time when turning to Waze and Google earth is more reflexive than seeking out a physical map, Ocampo said it would do well for the public to remember that a crucial map that defines us was etched by a Filipino.

"A map is not only territory, it is also national identity. Maps have come to represent a nation. From the 16th century to 2019 the formation of that [Philippines'] shape, has become integral to being Filipino," he said. – Rappler.com

Metro Manila mayors have a Viber group, and one of its manifestations is in the apparent simultaneous class suspension across the cities.

"Kaya kung napansin po ninyo sabay-sabay na kaming nagsu-suspend ng klase (That's why if you noticed, we now suspend classes at the same time)," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed at the 2019 Social Good Summit: #2030Now #InsightforImpact at the De La Salle University in Manila on Saturday, September 21.

Belmonte and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno were on a panel that discussed how to make metro areas more livable.

Panelist urban planner Paulo Alcazaren chimed in, asking if only the young mayors, referring to Belmonte, Moreno, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, are looped in this app messaging group.

"In fairness naman kay [Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita] Abalos, kay [Parañaque City Mayor Edwin] Olivarez, [Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro], everybody's trying to participate and communicate using technology, which is great. That means na meron kaming chismis talagang among ourselves," Moreno responded.

(In fairness to Mayor Abalos, Mayor Olivarez, Mayor Teodoro, everybody's trying to participate and communicate using technology, which is great. That means we have our own inside information.)

In the spirit of integration and collaboration, Moreno said this form of communication helps them be familiar with each other's problems, then agree on possible solutions. 

Moreno said that even without having an elected governor, Metro Manila mayors still coordinate with each other.

While Moreno said them mayors are still guilty of having a "parochial mentality" wherein they only address their own constituencies, they try to work hand in hand in terms of road management, specifically in harmonizing traffic rules and opening the Mabuhay lanes. – Rappler.com

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco pulled out all the stops for his new baby daughter's baptism celebration, inviting President Rodrigo Duterte as guest to a floral-themed banquet fit for a princess.

Malacañang released photos of the elaborate affair held on Sunday, September 22, at the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

Velasco's baby daughter is named Sara, which also happens to be the name of Duterte's own eldest daughter, Sara Duterte, Davao City mayor. Sara is Lord's political patron (she once called him the "next Speaker") and big bike riding buddy.

There were other powerhouse guests. Tycoon Ramon Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation, was present and sat beside Duterte in the VIP table.

Ang is the biggest donor to a foundation chaired by Velasco's wife Wen, Pilipinong May Puso Foundation. Launched in 2016, it is supposed to fund charity projects in honor of Duterte's late mother, Soledad Roa Duterte.

Duterte's close aide, Senator Bong Go, was in attendance, as well as Senator Sonny Angara, his wife Tootsie, and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Also spotted were Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

But it was the event's decorations that were truly jaw-dropping. Garlands of fresh flowers in every shade of pink cascaded from the ceilings beside glittering chandeliers. 

They were reflected from below by round glass tables equally stuffed with pink and white roses.

Velasco wore a baby-pink suit to match, while wife Wen wore a light pink gown with floral accents.

The Velasco couple are close to Duterte and his family. The two are often part of the President's official foreign trips. Their family had spent Christmas Eve with Duterte's family in Davao City in 2016. Velasco even once held his birthday party on Malacañang grounds.– Rappler.com

Bookmark this page to watch the interview on Tuesday, September 24 at 2 pm!

MANILA, Philippines – The Duterte government’s alleged attack against dissent has now reached the second highest government official in the Philippines.

Vice President Leni Robredo, the leader and face of the opposition, is among the 36 individuals facing inciting to sedition complaints after Peter Joemel Advincula – the man behind the viral Bikoy videos – accused them of plotting against the Duterte administration. (READ: Bikoy vs Bikoy: The biggest flip-flops of the government's star witness)

On Tuesday, September 24, Rappler editor at large Marites Vitug sits down with human rights lawyer Marlon Manuel to discuss the complaint against Robredo and what the harassment against the opposition means to the rule of law in the Philippines. 

Manuel is Robredo’s lawyer in the inciting to sedition complaint. 

What’s the Vice President’s next move? Watch the interview live on Tuesday, September 24, at 2 pm! – Rappler.com

As congressmen celebrated the "early passage" of the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, Senator Panfilo Lacson pointed out that the lower chamber still has a lot of work to do.

In a media interview on Monday, September 23, Lacson said the House lawmakers have yet to introduce their amendments to the budget bill, which will take more time to complete.

"It is wrong to conclude that they passed the House version of the budget in record time because they have not done [the period of amendments] yet," Lacson said.

"They will still introduce their committee amendments and even their individual amendments. Ito ang mas tedious (This is the more tedious part)," the senator said.

On Friday, September 20, a total of 257 lawmakers approved the general appropriations bill (GAB) minutes after the plenary passed the measure on second reading.

Only 6 lawmakers, all under the Makabayan bloc, opposed its passage over lack of transparency.

Congressmen will just introduce their amendments when the bicameral conference committee convenes – a move that would give the upper chamber less time to scrutinize the proposed changes in the GAB.

House pork?

Lacson said the alleged P100 million allocation per congressman for their pet projects would "not sit well" with him, if it were true.

House appropriations committee vice chairperson Joey Salceda claimed that the allocation consists of P70 million worth of infrastructure funds while the remaining P30 million would be for "soft" projects like medical and education assistance.

But Lacson said that every district has varying needs and may not necessarily require uniform allocation for all.

"It won’t sit well with us, sa akin particularly, because hindi dapat pare-pareho ang allocation sa districts (with me particularly, because the allocation per district shouldn't be the same)," Lacson said. 

"It should be need-based and priority–based. Because there are districts that would need more than other districts," he added.

But since the GAB has yet to reach the upper chamber, Lacson said they have yet to see the line items for themselves.

"Hindi pa natin nakikita. It’s just an admission made by Representative Salceda. For all we know, he may be disowned by some of his colleagues dahil siya lang nagsalita, wala pang nag-confirm," Lacson said.

(We haven't seen it yet. It's just an admission made by Representative Salceda. For all we know, he may be disowned by some of his colleagues because he's the only one who revealed it, and nobody else had confirmed the claim.)

The lower chamber fast-tracked the passage of the proposed P4.1-trillion budget for next year, in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's budget deadlock over unconstitutional insertions.

The 2019 budget delay caused the economy to slow down, and forced the government to operate on a reenacted budget. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) from all over the world will be spotting false or misleading claims made by top officials during the 2019 United Nations General Assembly.

The IFCN said 23 fact-checking organizations from 17 countries have agreed to cooperate and make sure speeches made by politicians will not breed disinformation. Starting Tuesday, September 24, each organization is tasked to monitor the statements made by their own national representatives during the international event which is taking place in New York.

In the Philippines, Rappler and Vera Files are part of this worldwide fact-checking effort. These two organizations are the only verified signatories to the IFCN in the country.

The outputs of the involved organizations will be shared with the other groups within the network and will be translated and republished in other countries. In case of errors, all corrections should also be made available to all the fact checkers that republished the material.

The IFCN said claims that have an international impact will be prioritized over those that only have local or regional concerns. “By doing so, the alliance establishes itself as an attempt to fight mis/disinformation that can be widely spread in events like this one, where top politicians make long speeches and are internationally heard,” wrote IFCN Associate Director Cristina Tardáguila in an article.

All fact checkers involved in this initiative have agreed to a set of terms proposed by the IFCN.

Apart from Rappler and Vera Files, the other fact checkers part of the project are:

• BD FactCheck (Bangladesh)
• Istinomjer (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Agência Lupa (Brazil)
• Aos Fatos (Brazil)
• Agence Science-Presse (Canada)
• Correctiv (Germany)
• Vishvas News (India)
• The Quint (India)
• Boom (India)
• Factnameh (Iran)
• PesaCheck (Kenya)
• Vistinomer (Macedonia)
• Dubawa (Nigeria)
• Demagog (Poland)
• Maldita.es (Spain)
• Newtral (Spain)
• NewstoF/SNUFactCheck (South Korea)
• Doğruluk Payı (Turkey)
• FactCheck.org (USA)
• PolitiFact (USA)
• Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela)

The outputs can be closely monitored on social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with the hashtag #UNAssemblyFacts. – Rappler.com

Claim: Rehashed claims of "final, official results" of the 2016 vice presidential elections reflect a different winner – and not incumbent Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo. 

At least two graphics cards cited figures from a supposed "National Board of Canvassers," saying Robredo received only 11,418,817 in the vice presidential race, while her opponent former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr got 15,155,344 votes.

Versions of these cards were posted on September 18, 2019 by the Facebook accounts of Jesus Perpetuo Soguilon Daguno Jr and Herbert Florida. As of this writing, Daguno's post has been shared over 25,000 times, and has received 3,500 likes and 2,100 comments. Florida's post got at least 2,900 shares, 557 likes, and 209 comments so far.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: The numbers on the rehashed graphics are fabricated and have no basis. There are also no official figures yet from the ongoing election protest concerning the 2016 vice presidential race at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

These repeated claims resurfaced days after it was reported on September 10 that Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, member in charge of Marcos' electoral protest, had submitted a report to the PET on the results of the first stage of the recount. However, no further details like revised vote counts were disclosed.

The PET also has yet to decide on whether or not to proceed with the rest of the recount, as the Marcos camp has to prove its case first in its 3 pilot provinces in the recount's first stage. The Supreme Court sits as the PET to decide on election protests in presidential and vice presidential races. (READ: Presidential Electoral Tribunal: What happens to a protest?)

As for details in the graphics, the "National Board of Canvassers" is not the PET. In the case of presidential and vice presidential elections, both houses of Congress convene as the National Board of Canvassers days after the elections to officially canvass the votes and proclaim the winning president and vice president, in line with the 1987 Constitution.

The figures in the graphics also manipulated the actual official canvass of the 2016 vice presidential race on May 30, 2016. Robredo got 14,418,817 votes while Marcos obtained 14,155,344 votes.

In April 2019, Agence France-Presse had marked these claims on the vice presidential elections and subsequent recount as false.

Rappler has fact-checked similar claims on supposed results of the vice presidential race and recount at least twice before. In May 2018, Rappler rated as false the claims in some dubious websites saying Marcos had won the recount. Then, in April 2019, it debunked the opposite claim, that Marcos had lost. – Rappler.com

Imagine if vaccines were used to generate profit from an intentionally-proliferated disease outbreak. It's a plot hatched in Hollywood dystopia.

In a Senate committee hearing on September 24, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked resource speakers from the Department of Health and other health organizations if it was possible for vaccine developers to create outbreaks so their vaccines make more money.

Health and demography committee chair Senator Bong Go was just about to wrap up a two-hour hearing on immunization when Dela Rosa signaled he wanted to add something.

It was Dela Rosa’s first and only time to speak in the hearing.

“Hindi ito related sa budget ninyo, pero nanonood kasi ako ng sine. Tatanong ko lang sa inyo, puwede ba 'yung mga lumalabas sa sine na, ‘yung mga producer ng vaccines, sila rin yung nagci-create ng outbreak para mabenta ‘yung kanilang vaccine?” he asked.

“Nanonood lang ako ng sine. Puwede kaya mangyari ‘yan?”

(This isn’t related to your budget, but I watch movies. I would just like to ask, is it possible, as seen in the movies, that vaccine producers are also the ones who create outbreaks so that their vaccines would sell? I just watch movies. Can that happen?)

“Pasagot mo kay Lito Lapid ‘yan mamaya (Ask Senator Lito Lapid later),” Go told Dela Rosa, prompting laughter in the room.

While Dela Rosa appeared to be half kidding, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) said they had policies in place to prevent that from happening.

RITM Director Celia Carlos said that since the RITM stores microorganisms, they are, in fact, technically capable of doing “untoward things.”

Given this, management does background investigations of their staff, puts up more than 50 always-running CCTV cameras, and has in place strict access control measures in the facility. They also participate in programs to address biosafety and biological hazards.

Still, “anything can happen,” said Carlos.

Not long after, Go ended the session and thanked resource persons for their inputs. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Over 3 years of his presidency has shown that President Rodrigo Duterte has a pattern of skipping public engagements, often due to health-related issues like being "overworked," "indisposed," or getting a fever or migraine.

He's also taken several week-long absences from the public eye – meaning, he had no activities where average Filipinos could see him and know he is physically fine.

Rappler has compiled this list of skipped official events and periods of prolonged absences which have sparked concerns over the 74-year-old Duterte's health. (READ: President's health: Touchy topic for Duterte, public concern for Constitution)

This list will be continuously updated, with the most recent incidents appearing on top.

Prolonged absences:

• August 11-18 (7 days)
• May 14-20, 2019 (7 days)
• April 29-May 4, 2019 (6 days)
• June 20-26, 2017 (6 days)
• June 12-16, 2017 (5 days)

Skipped events:

• September 24, 2019 Armed Forces of the Philippines change of command ceremony because of a fever after a "punishing schedule"
• August 26, 2019 National Heroes Day rites in Luneta because he was "indisposed"
• May 9, 2019 Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign rally because he "needed rest"
• April 26, 2019 Belt and Road forum's gala dinner because he had a "migraine"
• April 22, 2019 Boao Forum of Asia Manila Conference because he felt "overworked"
• April 12, 2019 PDP-Laban campaign rally in Marawi City because of bad flying conditions
• March 15, awarding of certificates of land ownership and PDP-Laban campaign rally in Davao City because he was "indisposed"
• November 30, 2018 Bonifacio Day ceremony because he had to "fly to Mindanao to attend to the problem of insurgency in Mindanao"
• November 14, 2018 ASEAN summits with partner countries and working lunch
• October 3, 2018 Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation event in Malacañang
• June 30, 2017 Independence Day ceremony because he was "not feeling well"
• September 8, 2016 ASEAN-US and ASEAN-India summits
• Photo-op of ASEAN leaders with US President Barack Obama, also during September 2016 Laos conference
• November 20, 2016 APEC family photo and APEC economic leaders retreat due to "jet lag"
• November 19, 2016 APEC gala dinner hosted by Peru President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
• November 11, 2016 Go Negosyo summit in Davao due to a "migraine"
• Campaign speech in 2016 because he was rushed to the hospital where he stayed overnight because of a migraine and chest cold

– Rappler.com