January[edit]

Philippine Arena
January 1 – The Iglesia ni Cristo claims three new Guinness world records during the "Countdown to 2016" grand New Year event at the Ciudad de
Victoria in Bocaue, Bulacan.[1]
January 4 – The Sandiganbayan Special Second Division has finally ordered Alfonso Lim Sr., a crony of the late president Ferdinand Marcos to return to
the government all properties he acquired.[2]
January 7 – The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has denied the bail petition of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with his alleged involvement in the
PDAF scam.[3]

A satellite captured image of theKagitingan Reef, internationally known as Fiery Cross Reef.
January 8 – The Department of Foreign Affairs files a diplomatic protest against China's test flights in the Kagitingan Reef located across the disputed
West Philippine Sea.[4]
January 12 – The Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United
States signed in 2014.[5]
January 13 – Zamboanga City declared a state of calamity due to the onslaught of El Niño phenomenon and its negative effects to the farmlands.[6]
January 14 – President Aquino vetoes House Bill No. 5842, which intends to increase the pension of the members of Social Security System.[7]
January 15 – Munap Saimaran, one of the bandits in the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings, is arrested in Sulu.[8]
January 19
President Aquino approves Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reforms Act of 2016 that will enable reforms in strengthening the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) political system.[9]
North Cotabato declares a state of calamity after damages due to the 2016 El Niño reached over ₱200 million, including damage due to drought and
rats.[10]
January 20
Former Iglesia ni Cristo evangelical worker Lowell Menorca II is arrested by Manila Police District policemen in civil clothes without any warrant of arrest
showed due to libel charges filed by SCAN International Lanao del Norte chapter while he trying to attend a hearing in Court of Appeals.[11] The INC
categorily denied the involvement in commotion between the policemen and Menorca. [12] (see 2015 Iglesia ni Cristo leadership controversy)
The Office of the Ombudsman orders effectively the dismissal in service of Quezon City District 2 Councilor Roderick Paulate and District 1 Councilor
Francisco Calalay and two city liaison officials on the hiring of "ghost employees" in 2010. [13]
January 22
Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is appointed as the new Associate Justice of Supreme Court, replacing retired justice Martin Villarama,
Jr.[14]
Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's Special Enforcement Service, is arrested in a buy-bust
operation in a shabu laboratory in Sta. Cruz, Manila.[15]

51st International Eucharistic Congress' official logo

January 24-31 – The 51st International Eucharistic Congress is held in Cebu.[16]
January 26 – The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee concludes its hearings on the corruption allegations against Vice President and UNA presidential
candidate Jejomar Binay.[17]
January 27 – The Bangsamoro Basic Law supposed to be passed on its final reading in the House of Representatives before January.[18] But due to no
proper quorum in the Congress, the bill had no chances to pass in the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress.[19] Aside from the BBL, Aquino
administration's priority bills, the Anti-Dynasty, Anti-Discrimination and the Freedom of Information bills, "killed" in the 16th congress as the Session will
temporarily adjourned in preparation for the 2016 elections.[20]
January 31 – In the latest report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Philippines places second in the list of most dangerous places
for journalists.[21]
February[edit]

Senator Antonio F. Trillanes.

February 1 – The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 142 issues a warrant of arrest against Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes
IV over the libel case filed by disqualified Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Jr..[22] On February 9, Trillanes posted bail.[23]
February 3 – The COMELEC 1st Division denied all the disqualification cases against PDP–Laban presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte.[24]
February 5
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) files the usurpation case against former PNP Chief Alan Purisima due to usurping his role in his
involvement in the Mamasapano clash.[25]
Maguindanao suffers from the effects of the 2014-2016 El Niño, destroying rice and corn crops on the drought caused, and the provincial government
declares a state of calamity in response to residents experiencing food shortage.[26]
February 9 – The AFP and PNP operatives arrest Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) top leader Hassan Indal a.k.a. Abu Hazam in a joint
operation in Cotabato City.[27]
February 10 – The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority announces that it has documented more than 400 additional islands, mostly in
the Mindanao group, using the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar. The islands were previously thought to be part of a bigger island.[28] The
previous official count was 7,107 by the Gazetteer of the Philippine Islands in 1945. [29]
February 16 – Six policemen killed and eight wounded in a clash with New People's Army members in Barangay Sta. Margarita, Baggao, Cagayan.[30]
February 18 – The Department of Transportation and Communications and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board launches the
P2P or Point to Point Premium Bus, the first bus service in the country accessible for the Persons with Disabilities sector.[31][32]
February 19
President Aquino signs Executive Order 201 (under the proposed Salary Standardization Law of 2015) that increases the salaries of government
agency workers and adding additional benefits to civilian and military uniformed personnel.[33]
The Office of the Ombudsman files graft and documents falsification charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Makati City mayor Junjun
Binay and 22 others over the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building II. [34]
February 26 – At least 60 are killed in a encounter in Butig, Lanao del Sur. Among them were suspected members of Maute Terrorist Group and three
soldiers.[35]
February 29
The Philippines and Japan signs an agreement on the transfer of the Japanese defense and surveillance equipment to the country's military.[36]
The remains of the late President Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines, are transferred from the Manila South Cemetery in Makati to
the Heroes' Cemetery in Taguig to mark his 60th death anniversary.[37]
March[edit]
March 1 – Aid al-Qarni, a Islam preacher, and a diplomat from Saudi Arabian embassy was shot by a gunman after a lecture in the Western Mindanao
State University in Zamboanga City.[38]
March 3 – The Office of the Ombudsman files charges against five former Representatives including former Muntinlupa congressman Ruffy Biazon, in
connection with the PDAF scam.[39]
March 5
The Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian and 6 others over the deadly blaze that hit footwear
factory Kentex Manufacturing Corporation, killing at least 72 people in May last year. [40] On March 15, The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of graft
charges against Gatchalian and seven other individuals in connection with this case.[41]
The Philippine government orders to impound a cargo ship from North Korea in the Subic port, in response to tighter sanctions by United Nations against
North Korea due to its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.[42] OnMarch 24, the North Korean freighter M/V Jin Teng has left the country, after no
contraband was found onboard and the ship was cleared by the United Nations.[43]

Senator and Presidential candidate Grace Poe-Llamanzares was filed with disqualification cases due to allegations of not meeting the requirements
provided by the Constitution.
March 8 – Voted 9-6, the Supreme Court has affirms Grace Poe's natural-born status and declares she is qualified to run based on her 10-year
residency.[44]
March 15
The Supreme Court dismisses several petitions by several party-list groups to issue a TRO to stop the implementation of the K+12 education program of
the Department of Education.[45]
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has begin its inquiry into the alleged money laundering of $100 million that has dragged into this one of the
country's leading financial institutions.[46]
March 16
BIR employee Rhodora Alvarez, who blew the whistle on the alleged anomalous deal, filed a plunder complaint against Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin over a P1.2 billion helicopter deal in 2013.[47]
Disqualified Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito and eight other individuals were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged
anomalous insurance deal entered in 2008.[48]
March 18 – Former Camarines Norte Governor Roy Padilla Jr., is arrested over his failure to return a firearm issued to him in 1992. [49]
March 21 – The UNESCO has added Albay in the Philippines as one of the 20 additions to its network of protected biosphere nature reserves. [50]
March 22
The Sandiganbayan Second Division has dismissed the graft case against Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) former president and general
manager Winston Garcia on the alleged anomalous awarding of a multimillion-peso electronic membership card (e-Card) project in 2004.[51]
The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked dismissed Makati mayor Junjun Binay's contempt charges against former interior secretary Mar Roxas,
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, former justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and 5 others.[52]

Diwata-1, the first Philippine satellite built and designed by Filipino scientists.
March 23
Diwata-1 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Cygnus spacecraft on a supply mission. Cygnus itself will be launched using
the Atlas V rocket. The satellite was deployed into orbit from the ISS on April 27. Diwata-1 is the country's first micro-satellite and the first satellite to be
built and designed by Filipinos.[53]
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (under the Memorandum Circular 94) that aimed at "achieving unified action" as part of efforts to
find a resolution to the country's territorial dispute with China on theWest Philippine Sea is created.[54]
March 25 – Customs at the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen destroyed 34.78 tons of "substandard bananas" imported from the Philippines due to
excessive pesticide use.[55]
March 26 – A raging fire on the Philippines highest mountain, Mt. Apo, forced hundreds of people to flee from the peak by foot. [56]
March 27 – Anonymous Philippines has hacked the website of Commission on Elections to force them to place security features on Vote Counting
Machine (VCM).[57] Soon, the LulzSec Pilipinas leaked sensitive information of voters all over the Philippines from the COMELEC website, and the
incident has been called the "biggest government data breach in history". [58] On April 21, one of the hackers involved in the recent defacement and
supposed leak of data from the Commission on Elections' official website has been arrested in Sampaloc, Manila. [59] On April 29, another hacker
allegedly responsible for leaking the information of voters from the Comelec website was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation.[60]
March 28
Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Neric Acosta has been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment after being
found guilty of one count of graft by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in connection with the misuse of his pork barrel funds as district representative of
Bukidnon.[61]
None of the three pre-qualified bidders have submitted offers for the largest Private-Public Partnership (PPP) project to date, the Laguna Lakeshore
Expressway estimated to cost around P123 billion.[62]
Several piles of license plate sheets were stolen from the Quezon City central office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) during the Holy Week
break.[63]
March 29
Ten Indonesian crew members on board a tugboat were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines.[64] On May 1, ten Indonesian sailors who
had been held hostage by Islamist militant group were released in Jolo.[65]
President Aquino has signed Republic Act No. 10754 into law a bill authored by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez granting persons with disabilities (PWDs)
exemption from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on certain goods and services.[66]
The Commission on Elections has decided not to stop the broadcast of senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao's boxing match on April 9.[67]
March 30 – The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and technical malversation cases against Sen. JV Ejercito, before the Sandiganbayan over the
alleged anomalous purchase of high-powered firearms worth P2.1 million during his term as mayor of San Juan City. [68]

Five transactions issued by hackers, worth $101 million and withdrawn from a Bangladesh Bank account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
succeeded, with $20M traced to Sri Lanka (since recovered) and $81M to the Philippines.
March 31
The camp of businessman Kim Wong handed over to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the $4.6 million he volunteered to return to the Bangladesh
government, supposedly after learning that the money was part of the $81-million money laundering scheme.[69] On April 4, Wong turned over an
additional P38.28 million to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) office.[70] On April 19, Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co. Ltd., has turned over P200
million to the AMLC.[71]
Addong Salahuddin, suspect in the bombing incident at the Zamboanga City Airport on August 5, 2010, where two people were killed and 28 others
injured, including former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation. [72]
For failure to exhaust all available administrative remedies, the Court of Appeals has dismissed the Philippine Heart Center's (PHC) bid for exemption
from payment of real property tax.[73]
April[edit]
April 1
At least 3 are killed and several others were wounded when police dispersed a farmers' protest action in Kidapawan demanding relief from the provincial
government due to a drought caused by El Nino affecting the province since November 2015.[74]
The Department of Education in partnership with Stairway Foundation launches CyberSafe Project Manuals, which contain individual lesson plans
targeting Grades 5 to 6 and junior high students to prevent internet-related child abuse.[75]
April 2 – A power outage hits the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City causing a disruption in the processing of
passengers.[76]
April 4 – The Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 74 denies the petition of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton to reverse his conviction for his
homicide case of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude.[77]

The Cebu International Convention Center was the subject of the graft charges filed by Third District of Cebu Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.
April 5
The Office of the Ombudsman finds probable cause to file charges against former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former SAF director Getulio Napeñas for
the Mamasapano operation that saw 44 SAF troopers killed, the biggest loss of the police in recent history. [78]
The Ombudsman orders the filing of graft charges against re-electionist Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia and 11 other former officials over the
alleged anomalous construction of the P833-million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in 2006.[79]
April 6 – A group calling itself iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan (iBBM) filed a complaint for plunder against Senator Bongbong Marcos for his alleged
involvement in the PDAF scam.[80]
April 7 – Neil Llamanzares, the husband of presidential candidate and senator Grace Poe, formally renounces his American citizenship before a
barangay chairman in San Juan City. Neil Llamanzares' American citizenship has been a subject of controversy among Grace Poe's critics.[81]
April 8
Italian national Rolando Del Torchio is released after being kidnapped at his pizza parlor in Dipolog on October 7, 2015.[82]
Memorandum Order No. 90 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. directs the abolition of the 42-year-old Armed Forces of the
Philippines–Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP–RSBS).[83]
Bohol declares state of calamity due to the 2016 El Niño.[84]
April 9
The Supreme Court declares that their vote on Grace Poe's natural-born status and 10-year residency is final and executory and she is eligible to
become president.[85]
18 soldiers and 5 Abu Sayyaf bandits including a suspected foreign terrorist, Moroccan national Mohammad Khattab, and Ubaida Hapilon, the son of
senior leader Isnilon Hapilon are killed during a clash in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.[86]

President Aquino in the groundbreaking ceremony of Clark Green City.

April 11
The groundbreaking rites for the Clark Green City, a sustainable city located in the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga, is conducted and led by
President Aquino.[87]
Cebu province is placed under state of calamity due to the 2016 El Niño.[88]
April 13 – The Sandidganbayan Fifth Division grants the petitions for bail of former APEC party-list Representative Edgar Valdez, former Masbate
Representative Rizalina Lanete and Janet Lim Napoles who were facing plunder charges in connection with the PDAF scam.[89]
April 14 – Former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV and former Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Ducut, along with
23 other individuals, are charged with graft and malversation of public funds in connection with their alleged involvement in the PDAF scam.[90]
April 17 – Presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte causes controversy when a video of him making a joke about the rape of a
murdered Australian missionary goes viral.[91]
April 19 – Lester Ivan Rivera, a former bank security guard was found guilty of three counts of rape with homicide with theft and sentenced to three life
imprisonment terms in connection with the 2011 rape-slay case ofUniversity of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student Given Grace Cebanico.[92]
April 20
The Sandiganbayan Special Fourth Division has acquitted former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio from
graft and malversation of public funds cases, which stemmed from his alleged misuse of almost P12 million worth of recovered ill-gotten wealth of the
Marcoses.[93]
The groundbreaking rites for the ₱69.3-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project, marking the start of the construction of the 23-kilo-meter
elevated railway from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, is conducted and led by President Aquino.[94]
April 22 – President Aquino appoints Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda as the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), replacing Gen. Hernando
Iriberri who left the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. [95]
April 25 – John Ridsdel, a Canadian taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Samal Island, is beheaded on Jolo, Sulu.[96]
April 27 – Voted 4-3, the COMELEC en banc has officially cancelled the voting on the selected malls scheduled on May 9.[97]
May[edit]
May 2 – Vice presidential candidate and senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Atty. Sal Panelo, lawyer of presidential frontrunner and Davao City Mayor
Rodrigo Duterte, visits the Bank of the Philippine Islands branch along Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig, in a bid to settle the lawmaker's allegations of
hidden wealth against the mayor.[98]
May 5 – A negative advertisement, paid by Antonio Trillanes IV, targets presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte using children was aired, causing dismay
among netizens.[99] A 72-hour TRO was issued by Regional Trial Court in Taguig to stop any TV stations from airing the negative advertisement.[100]
May 6 – Mario Reyes, former mayor of Coron, Palawan and one of two brothers accused of masterminding the 2011 murder of journalist and good
governance advocate Gerry Ortega is granted bail by the court trying the case.[101]
Provincial and city breakdown of presidential race 2016.
May 9 – The 2016 National and Local elections are held.[102]
May 11 – The Sandiganbayan absolves former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos' graft charges over the botched $329-million ZTE-
National Broadband Network (NBN) deal in 2007.[103]
May 14 – Special elections are held in select villages in Visayas and Mindanao, where the Commission on Elections declared failure of elections. [104]
May 18 – President Aquino signed Republic Act No. 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act which seeks to provide children with
comprehensive relief and protection in the aftermath of disasters.[105]
May 23
The historic San Pedro bell is finally returned and displayed at the Bauang Church in La Union, more than a hundred years after it was taken by
American soldiers as a war booty during the Philippine-American War.[106]
President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10844 into law, which creates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).[107][108]
May 25 – Arianwen Rollan's research on Malunggay seed extract that may help hamper the growth of tumors, bagged the Qatar Foundation's First
Award for Research and Development in Medical Science at year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. [109]
May 30 – The Congress proclaims Rodrigo Duterte and Leni Robredo as President-elect and Vice President-elect of the Philippines, respectively, based
on the canvassing of votes by the National Board of Canvassers for President and Vice President from May 25 to 27. [110]
May 31
The Supreme Court dismisses the appeal of former MMDA Chairman and senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino to stop the proclamation of Win
Gatchalian, Ralph Recto and Leila de Lima, the top 10, 11 and 12 senators in the Philippine Senate election, 2016 respectively.[111]
President Aquino signs Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) which amends some previsions of the Tariff and
Customs Code of 1978 and to modernize the operations of the Bureau of Customs. [112]
June[edit]
June 1
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of criminal charges against former Valenzuela representative and senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian,
former Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman of the board Prospero Pichay Jr. and 24 other former government officials and private
individuals for alleged anomalous acquisition of a thrift bank by in 2009. [113]
The Philippine Navy commissioned its brand new and largest ship, the BRP Tarlac together with three newly-acquired landing craft heavy vessels, BRP
Waray, BRP Iwak, and BRP Agta.[114]
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has dismissed the perjury and violation of the code of conduct cases against the late Supreme Court Chief
Justice Renato Corona.[115]
The Antipolo Regional Trial Court has dismissed the double-murder case against ex-Colonel Red Kapunan, in connection with the deaths of former
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) leader, Rolando Olalia and his driver, Leonor Alay-ay on November 13, 1986.[116][117]
The Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog has overruled Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and rejected his 2012 decree declaring that the alleged Marian
apparitions in Batangas in 1948 were authentic.[118]
June 6 – Businessman Mel Velarde, donated a framed replica of the 1734 Murillo Map that showed Scarborough Shoal as part of the Philippine
archipelago to the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[119]
June 7 – The Supreme Court dismisses the petition filed by Atty. Elly Pamatong, a presidential candidate classified as "nuisance" that seeks to null and
void the votes of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte and to stop his proclaimation by the National Board of Canvassers.[120]
June 8 – The Office of the Ombudsman has upheld the decision of the Manila Prosecutor’s Office dismissing treason and inciting to sedition complaint
filed last year against outgoing Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Deles, peace negotiators Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Mohagher Iqbal and members
of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).[121]