Senator Leila de Lima arrested

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima surrendered to the Philippine

National Police (PNP) on Friday morning, February 24, over drug
charges filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ) before a
court in Muntinlupa.
An arresting team from the Philippine National Police Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group was on its way shortly past 8 am to
Camp Crame with De Lima, where she is expected to be detained.

She stepped out of the building to voluntarily yield to authorities.

"Sasama na po ako sa kanila voluntarily. Nananalig po ako sa

Diyos na malalampasan ko po ito (I will join them voluntarily. I have
faith in God that I will be able to hurdle this)," the senator said.

"It's my honor to be jailed for the principles I am fighting for," De

Lima told reporters in Filipino before the arrest.

She reiterated her denial of charges she coddled drug

convicts. "Pawang kasinungalingan po 'yan. Lalabas po ang
katotohanan sa tamang panahon (The truth will come out at the proper
time)," De Lima said.

Former president Benigno Aquino III talked to her on the phone

before her surrender, according to De Lima's media officer, Ferdie
Maglalang.

De Lima reached Camp Crame at around 8:40 am. After the

booking process at the CIDG, she was brought to the Muntinlupa
Regional Trial Court (RTC) to appear before Judge Juanita Guerrero.
 De Lima was detained at the PNP Custodial Center shortly past 1
pm Friday.

De Lima is the 4th Philippine senator to be arrested in 3 years.

Three former senators under the previous Aquino administration – Juan
Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, and Jinggoy Estrada – were arrested and
subsequently jailed in 2014 on the basis of plunder charges readied by
the Department of Justice, then under De Lima.

One of the senator's co-accused, her former driver, Ronnie Dayan,

was arrested Thursday, February 23, in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.

Early Friday, De Lima said she was ready for the arrest and had a
few hours of sleep.

Her lawyers on Friday asked Judge Guerrero to recall the arrest

warrant against the senator, said De Lima's media officer.

They also plan to bring the case to the Supreme Court later Friday,
according to lawyer Alexander Padilla.

Senator Leila de Lima is accompanied by her lawyer Alexander

Padilla to a waiting PNP team.

Around 7 pm on Thursday, an emotional De Lima appealed to be

allowed to spend the night with her family first, and that she would
voluntarily surrender to the arresting team at the Senate on Friday
morning.
 The senator left the Senate after her press conference past 7 pm on
Thursday, confident that she had secured that arrangement with the help
of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, but headed back to the Senate
upon learning that the arresting team was on its way to her home. She
left before the arrival of the arresting team.

The arresting team entered De Lima's subdivision at around 10 pm,

while the senator reached her office past 10 pm, and spent the night
there.

Pimentel said in a media interview earlier in the day that under the
Senate rules, an arrest cannot be made inside Senate premises.

He also said the primary concern of the Senate is De Lima's

security. "She will continue to function as a senator," Pimentel added.

Malacañang welcomed the arrest as a "major step forward" in its

war on drugs. Liberal Party politicians and sectors supporting De Lima
say it's simple persecution.

De Lima's arrest is the culmination of a 5-month high-profile

investigation of her alleged links to drug lords detained in the New
Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, charges that she said were concocted by
the administration to silence her.

She had led a Senate probe into the alleged involvement of

President Rodrigo Duterte in extrajudicial killings in Davao City when
he was mayor, but that probe cost her her leadership of the Senate justice
committee.
 On February 17, De Lima was charged in court for violating
Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which
penalizes the "sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery,
distribution and transportation of illegal drugs."

Section 28 of the same law imposes maximum penalties for

government officials found guilty of the crime. (READ: EXPLAINER:
What is Leila de Lima being accused of?)

Aside from De Lima, the others charged before the Muntinlupa

RTC were Dayan, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Franklin
Jesus Bucayu, former BuCor officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, Bucayu's
former staff Wilfredo Elli, inmate Jaybee Sebastian, De Lima's ex-
security aide Joenel Sanchez, and De Lima's nephew Jad de Vera.

In exchange for testifying against De Lima, Justice Secretary

Vitaliano Aguirre II said the DOJ dismissed the drug complaints against
Bilibid inmates Herbert Colanggo, Engelbert Durano, Vicente Sy, Jojo
Baligad, and Peter Co. "They will be utilized as prosecution witnesses,"
Aguirre earlier said.

De Lima previously asked the Court of Appeals to stop the DOJ

from investigating her, saying it's the Ombudsman that has jurisdiction
over elected public officials like her.

The drug accusations stemmed from a marathon House inquiry,

where high-level inmates alleged that the senator facilitated the drug
trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

De Lima's allies in the Liberal Party said the inmates were only

threatened to make such statements against De Lima.
 Gov't, CPP-NPA ceasefire breakdown

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday announced that he

has terminated the government’s ceasefire with the communist New
People's Army (NPA) following a series of armed clashes in the past
weeks.
The development is seen as a setback in the peace talks, which
resumed in August 2016. 
Since his assumption to the presidency, Duterte has been vocal in
his desire to put an end to one of the world's longest-running Maoist
insurgency which has claimed roughly 30,000 lives since the 1960s. 
Here is the timeline leading to the breakdown in the ceasefire:
APRIL 27, 2016
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria
Sison said he sees the possibility of a ceasefire between communist
rebels and the government if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wins
the presidency.
Sison, who has been in exile in the Netherlands since 1987, said
returning home is also an option under a Duterte administration.
Sison also revealed that he has spoken with Duterte on the
importance of resuming the peace talks if the latter wins the presidency.
MAY 23, 2016
Incoming president Duterte said he was willing to release political
prisoners even if no peace agreement has yet been reached with
communist rebels. 
 Duterte said he has no problems with a general amnesty, even for
CPP leaders Wilma and Benito Tiamzon, as long as they deal in good
faith with his administration.
JULY 25, 2016
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte declared
a unilateral ceasefire with leftist rebels as part of his bid to end Asia's
longest running Maoist insurgency.
"To the CPP, let us end decades of ambuscades, we are going
nowhere and it is getting bloodier by the day. To immediately stop
violence in the ground, restore peace in the communities, I am now
announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDF effective
immediately and call on...the NDF and its forces to respond," he said.
JULY 30, 2016
President Rodrigo Duterte revoked a ceasefire with communist
rebels after the insurgents failed to reciprocate his declaration at the end
of a 24-hour deadline.
Duterte issued the ultimatum after a government militia man was
killed and four others were wounded in what the military said was an
ambush by the NPA in the southern province of Compostela Valley. The
rebels owned up to the attack, but said they were thwarting an Army
offensive.
AUGUST 1, 2016
A deadly clash erupted between government troops and the NPA in
Surigao del Norte, two days after President Duterte withdrew a unilateral
ceasefire with leftist rebels. 
 An NPA rebel was killed in the encounter which the AFP said was
brought about by complaints against the NPA's extortion activities in
Malimono town.
AUGUST 19, 2016
The CPP-NPA declared a 7-day unilateral ceasefire ahead of the
scheduled peace talks with the government.
The declaration was made following the temporary release of their
leaders Benito Tiamzon and his wife, Wilma Tiamzon.
The CPP, in a statement, said the ceasefire would take effect
starting 12:01 a.m. on August 21 and would last until 11:59 p.m. on
August 27.
AUGUST 22, 2016
The Philippine government and communist rebels opened the first
round of peace talks under the Duterte administration in Oslo, Norway
to try and end nearly five decades of conflict that has killed more than
40,000 people.
The two sides agreed on three issues: 
-Affirmation of previously-signed agreements;
-Reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity
Guarantees (JASIG) list;
-Accelerated process for negotiations, including the timeline for the
completion of the remaining substantive agenda for the talks: socio-
economic reforms; political and economic reforms; and, end of
hostilities and disposition of forces, including the Joint Monitoring
Committee.
AUGUST 26, 2016
The Philippine government and communist guerrillas signed an
indefinite ceasefire deal to facilitate peace talks aimed at ending one of
Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
Both sides agreed to implement unilateral, indefinite ceasefires --
something that has never been achieved before in the peace process.
AUGUST 27, 2016
The NPA released four captives in Surigao City, one day after the
government and the insurgents declared an indefinite ceasefire to fast-
track peace negotiations.
Police officers Caleb Sinaca, Jayroll Bagayas and Santiago
Lamarilao and a police civilian employee, Rodrigo Angob, were freed in
Mat-I village two months after they were seized from a cockpit arena.
OCTOBER 7, 2016
The government panel and communist rebels resumed the second
round of peace talks in Oslo, Norway.
Prior to the second round of talks, Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process Silvestre Bello expressed hopes of drafting an agreement
on an indefinite joint ceasefire as discussed by both parties in the
previous round of talks.
NOVEMBER 3, 2016
Duterte received Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
founding chairman Nur Misuari in Malacanang in a bid to widen support
for his efforts to end the decades-long Muslim rebellion in the south.
 Misuari, who expressed support for Duterte’s peace process efforts
claimed that the MNLF was shut out from the peace deal forged by 
Duterte's predecessor, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, with its
rival, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014. 
DECEMBER 9, 2016
President Duterte declined to order the release of 130 political
prisoners unless communist rebels agree to sign a bilateral ceasefire with
the government.
Duterte lamented that he had given too much, too soon, saying he
would lose leverage in the peace talks if he concedes in releasing all
political prisoners.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been
demanding the release of political prisoners through a general amnesty
proclamation.
DECEMBER 28, 2016
The NPA threatened to end its unilateral ceasefire unless the
government fulfills its promise to release over 400 political prisoners.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Chief
Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison called out the President for not
delivering on his promises, saying the peace talks seemed to be no
different from those held under previous administrations.
JANUARY 25, 2017
The third round of talks between the government and communist
rebels resumed in Rome and ended with no permanent ceasefire deal but
maintained that the unilateral ceasefires of both parties will remain.
JANUARY 30, 2017
The military accused NPA rebels of being behind the ambush and
killing of two soldiers in Echague, Isabela.
The slain soldiers were identified as Corporal Daryl Camangeg and
Corporal Virgilio Herrera. They were escorting barangay officials when
armed men fired at them. The NPA did not confirm or deny their
involvement in the ambush.
FEBRUARY 1, 2017
The New People’s Army (NPA) said it will withdraw its unilateral
ceasefire but maintained that it will continue to engage in peace with the
Duterte administration. 
Communists claimed that the military has been encroaching into
rebel-held areas.
FEBRUARY 3, 2017
Duterte terminated the government’s ceasefire with the communist
rebels after soldiers were killed in a series of armed clashes.
 DENR cancels 75 mining contracts
A total of 75 mining companies are now at risk of losing their
Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) it earlier got from the
government, while the environmental permit of Southeast Asia’s largest
undeveloped copper-gold mining project, which is located in South
Cotobato, has already been cancelled.
This, as the crusade of Environmental Secretary Gina Lopez
against the destructive operations in the mining sector continues without
letup.
Amid criticism on her recent decisions, which involves issuing
closure and suspension orders to 28 mines, Lopez still proceeded to
cancel more mining contracts yesterday.
This time, she cancelled as much as 75 MPSAs as well as the
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of the Tampakan copper-
gold mining project.
MPSA are mineral agreement wherein government gets a share in
the production of the mining company, whether in kind or in value, as
owner of the minerals.
In return, the mining contractor shall provide the necessary
financing, technology, management and personnel for the mining
project.
Based on Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), there are
currently 311 existing MPSAs right now, of which only 96 are
operational.
Some of the big mining firms that may lose their MPSAs are:
Kingking Mining Corp. (Davao del Norte), Alsons Development and
Investment Co., Inc. (Compostela Valley), Silangan Mindanao Mining
Co., Inc. (Surigao), Philex Gold Philippines,, Inc. (Surigao and
Zamboanga), Vulcan Industrial and Mining Corp. (Negros) and TVI
Resources Development Phils. (Zamboanga).
Lopez said these companies will receive show cause orders from
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources starting today
(Wednesday) and will be given seven days to explain why they can keep
their MPSAs.
“We don’t want more MPSA (given to mining operations) near
watershed,” Lopez said in an interview with reporters. “The MPSAs that
are to be cancelled are not yet operational. We are going to cancel it
even before they start operating. No one will lose their jobs.”
In Davao Region, other companies affected in the MPSA
cancellation are King Eagle Exploration and Mining Corp., Dabawenyo
Minerals Corp., Phil. Youbang Mining International Corp., Sinophil
Mining and Trading Corp., Core Mining Corp., Ore-East Mining Co.,
Inc., and Napnapan Mineral Resources, Inc.
DENR is also cancelling MPSAs of some mining operations in
Dinagat and Surigao, including Bright Green Resources Corp., Pacific
Nickel Phils, Inc., Consolidated Ores. Phils., Inc., Phigold Metallic Ore,
Inc., East Coast Mineral Resources Co., Inc., Kepha Mining Exploration
Co., North Dinagat Mineral Resources Corp., and Rosario Consolidated
Mining Co.
In Zamboanga, companies that are at risk of losing their MPSAs
are Siennalyn Gold Mining Corp., Solid North Mineral Corp., Atro
Mining-Vitali Inc., 168 Ferrum Pacific Mining Corp., Geotechniques
and Mines Inc., Roldan Dalman, Peng Cheng Metallic Resources Corp.,
Maharlika Dragon Mining Corp., and Czarstone Mining Corp.
 Five operations based in Zambales are likewise affected in the
DENR’s latest order, which includes Shangfil Mining and Trading
Corp., San Juanico Resources Corp., Mineral Treasures Mining Corp.,
Mina Tierra Gracia Inc., and Westchinamin Corp., while another one is
from Negras, namely Selenga Mining Corp.
In Palawan, the DENR is cancelling the government’s mining
contracts with Central Palawan Mining and Industrial Corp., Palawan
Star Mining Ventures Inc. , Pyramid Hill Mining and Industrial Corp.,
Macroasia Corp., Lebach Mining Corp., while in Abra, Jabra Corp. may
lose two MPSAs.
Other companies to lose MPSAs are GRCO Isulan Mining Corp.,
South Davao Development Co. Inc., Hard Rock Mineral Trading Inc.,
Crescent Mining and Development Corp., Itogon Suyoc Resources Inc.,
Macawiwili Gold Mining and Development Company Inc., Egerton
Gold Philippines Inc., Alumina Mining Philippines Inc., Bauxite
Resources Inc., Nickelace Inc., United Philippines and China Mining
Corp., Industries Development Corp., Indophil Resources Phils Inc.,
Parvisgold Inc., Plethora Mineral Corp., Pio Castillo, Asia Alstron
Mining and Development Corp., Phil Alstron Mining Corp., Aglubang
Mining Corp., Alagag Mining Corp., Altai Philippines Mining Corp.
Meanwhile, it was last year when the DENR began running after
the $5.9 billion Tampakan project for some environmental concerns.
Now, Lopez officially cancelled the ECC of Sagittarius Mines Inc. for
the project, which could have been the largest foreign investment in the
country.
Withdrawal of the ECC will prevent any company to continue its
operations or its certain projects.
 “We are putting at risk the food basket of Mindanao for something
that we might not even get,” Lopez said. “We are cancelling it as a gift
of love for the people of Cotobato”.
Asked of the possible foregone investments in the mining sector,
Lopez said “if they (foreign investors) want to invest and rape the
country, I prefer that they go away”.
“They are going to invest here and then 82 percent of the net
revenue goes to them and then 95 percent of that 82 percent goes out of
the local economy, and then they create massive devastation here, then
they should just go somewhere else,” Lopez said.
For its part, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), which
comprised some of the country’s biggest miners, said the cancellation of
MPSAs only shows the utter lack of regard for due process by the
DENR.
 Students in Tanay Bus Crash Allegedly Forced to
Attend Ill-fated Field Trip
Parents of students in the tragic bus accident that claimed 15 lives
said that their children were forced to attend the ill-fated field trip.
Parents of students from Bestlink College of the Philippines in
Novaliches said on Tuesday that the school told its students to attend the
field trip or fail their class.
Warwin Alvarez, whose niece, April, was among those injured,
said April told him those who didn't attend the trip would not pass the
National Service Training Program.
The program is required under law of all college students as part of
civic education and defense preparedness.
"Parang sinabihan na daw siya na pag once hindi ka sumama ng
ano na yan, ibabagsak kita," he said.
The students were on their way Monday for a three-day outing at
the Sacramento Adventure Camp in Tanay, Rizal when the bus lost its
brakes on a descent and crashed into an electric post. The driver was
among the 15 killed in the crash. Dozens were injured
In a phone interview with CNN Philippines, Bestlink Colleges
denied the claims that those who missed the outing would fail class.
"They're only going to get an incomplete grade because it's not a
reason for them that they should be failing for the subject," Sister Nina
Basquiñez, secretary to the president of Bestlink Colleges said.
Basquiñez explained students would only get an incomplete grade
for the subject, which they could address within the year.
 The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) says it prohibits
schools from requiring field trips and excursions.
Field trips should only be incentives and should not affect the final
grades of any subject, it added.
Following the bus accident, CHED issued a temporary ban on all
out-of-town and educational field trips for all public and private
universities.
CHED Commissioner Prospero De Vera said this is the first time
such a moratorium is being issued on educational trips in universities.
Parents said if the school had not required the trip, some 50
kilometers from Manila, fewer people would have been injured and
died. 
The Taytay Public Information Office said the bus was carrying 58
students when it lost its brakes and crashed into an electric pole, killing
14 students and the bus driver.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Tuesday expressed
condolences to the victims families.
"The Palace expresses its condolences to the families of the
victims who died in the fatal bus mishap in Tanay, Rizal," he said.
Abella added, "The Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board has already been directed to ensure the road
worthiness of the buses and to remind public utility drivers to guarantee
the safety of all their passengers. The passengers must safely arrive at
their respective destinations."
 Quezon City 5th District Representative Alfred Vargas, who
represents the school's district, called for a meeting between the parents
and the school.
However, school officials failed to show up at the meeting on
Tuesday. 
Vargas said he will launch a formal investigation on the incident so
that Bestlink's officials will speak up and clarify details regarding the
accident.
 Philippines' Duterte orders police to 'cleanse'
ranks amidst murder scandal

President Rodrigo Duterte has called for a total overhaul of the

Philippine National Police in the wake of the alleged brutal killing of a
South Korean businessman by corrupt police officials.
"Cleanse your ranks. Review their cases. Give me a list of who the
scalawags are," Duterte said in a press conference late Sunday night.
Last week, Duterte apologized to South Korean investors and
South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, Kim Jae-Shin, for the
murder of Jee Ick-joo and promised swift retribution.
"I am very sorry for that sordid incident. But I can assure you;
policemen -- I will not let you get away," he said according to CNN
Philippines.
On Sunday, he gave any suspects still at large 48 hours to
surrender, threatening to put a 5 million peso 'dead-or-alive' bounty on
their heads.
Jee's gruesome kidnap and murder has sent shockwaves across the
Philippines and prompted accusations of a meltdown of discipline within
the police force.
The businessman was allegedly taken from his home in October,
held for ransom and then murdered by high-ranking police officers.
On Sunday, the Philippines president ordered the dissolution of all
anti-illegal drug units within the Philippine National Police, although he
said he remains committed to the controversial war on drugs campaign.
 "I will establish a new command. It could be a narcotics command
or whatever," he said, adding that he believes 40 percent of the police
use their authority to commit crime.
"As directed by the president, we are going to dissolve anti-drug
units of the PNP in all levels, including the anti-illegal drugs group of
the PNP," said PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa, according to CNN
Philippines.
Shocking murder
Investigations showed Jee was taken from his home in
October 2016 by officers working for the AIDG, or Anti-
Illegal Drug Group.
One of the suspects had a fake arrest warrant and Jee was arrested
under the guise of a drugs bust, according to Philippines National Police
spokesman, Colonel Dionard Carlos in an interview with CNN on
January 20.
Jee's family didn't immediately report the incident and say they
paid a 5 million peso ransom ($100,000) two weeks after his kidnapping.
However, his abductors did not release him and instead demanded
another 4.5 million pesos ($90,300).
According to Carlos, Jee was strangled to death before he was
cremated at a funeral parlor. His ashes were then poured down a toilet.
More than 7,000 people have died since Duterte unleashed his
bloody crackdown on drugs in June 2016.
The campaign has caused a backlash amongst human rights
groups, who accuse Duterte of turning a blind eye to killings by the
police in the name of his war on drugs.