January

 January 8 – Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHIC Phil) filed for corporate
rehabilitation after it declared bankruptcy; the biggest ever bankruptcy in the Philippines
surpassing the more than $386 million financial losses in the country related to the Lehman
Brothers bankruptcy of 2008.[1] HHIC defaulted its $412 million loan credited to five local banking
firms.[2]
 January 10 – Maia Santos Deguito, the former bank manager of Rizal Commercial Banking
Corporation (RCBC) was found guilty of money laundering in connection with the $81-million
cyber heist on Bangladesh's central bank in 2016.[3]
 January 21 – A plebiscite takes place with the majority of voters deciding to ratify
the Bangsamoro Organic Law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and abolishing
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.[4] Cotabato City also votes to join the new
autonomous region while in Isabela City in Basilan rejects its inclusion to the region.[5][6]
 January 24 – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has
placed tawilis on the list of endangered species.[7]
 January 27:
o At least 20 people were killed while 111 people were injured as explosions rocked the
Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu.[8][9][10][11]
o The cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay has kicked off with thousands of volunteers
and government workers participating.[12][13]
 January 30 – An explosion occurs at a mosque in Zamboanga City that killed two people and
injured at least four others.[14][15][16]

February

 February 2 – Five soldiers are killed while five others were wounded in an armed clash between
government troops and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.[17][18]
 February 6 – The second round of the Bangamoro Organic Law plebiscite is held with voters in
67 barangays in North Cotabato and 6 towns in Lanao del Norte deciding if they are in favor of
their localities joining the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.[19][20] 63 barangays
in North Cotabato votes to join the new autonomous region while 6 municipalities in Lanao del
Norte rejects its inclusion to the region.[21][22]
 February 13 – Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is arrested by the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) for cyber libel upon orders from Manila Regional Trial Court Branch
46.[23][24][25] She posted bail the next day. Ressa claimed that her right to due process was
violated, since she was not informed of the complaint against her. She also described her arrest
as an "abuse of power" and "weaponization of the law".[26] Ressa's arrest was condemned by
journalists, organizations, and influential figures from the Philippines and abroad, describing it as
an attack on press freedom.[27][28][29] Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied that the
government was trying to silence press freedom.[30] President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly
labeled Rappler as "fake news" as he perceived the online news site to be too critical of his
administration.[31][32] However, the libel complaint was filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng
regarding a Rappler article published in May 2012 (updated in February 2014) where Keng was
alleged to have lent a vehicle to Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was undergoing an
impeachment trial at the time.[33] The article also linked Keng to human trafficking and drug
smuggling.[34]
 February 26 – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region was formally established and
the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) is constituted.[35][36][37]
March[edit]

 Since March 6 – Numerous areas across Metro Manila, estimated to be 52,000 households
by Manila Water, experience water scarcity.[38] Manila Water COO Geodino Carpio cited the
delay of water infrastructure projects, such as the constructions of a wastewater treatment plant
in Cardona, Rizal and the Kaliwa Dam in Tanay, Rizal, for the issue.[39] Manila Water also noted
the critically low levels of the La Mesa Dam, its lowest level in 12 years, which the company
relies on as their emergency supply of water source.[40]
 March 11 – Christine Silawan, a 16-year-old high school student and church collector, was found
dead in a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.[41] Half of her face was skinned to the skull and her
body had multiple stab wounds.[42] She was also naked from the waist down and possibly
raped.[43] An autopsy also revealed that her tongue, trachea, esophagus, parts of her neck, and
her right ear were missing.[44] The killing has elicited controversy and political debate over
the proposed reinstatement of death penalty as a punishment for heinous crimes.[45][46][47][48]
 March 15 – Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Secretary of Foreign
Affairs Albert del Rosario filed a case in the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese
President Xi Jinping and other Chinese government officials for alleged crimes against
humanity.[49] The complaint cited environmental damage in the West Philippine Sea due to land
reclamation, occupation of islands, and destructive fishing activities conducted by China.[50] The
communication was delivered to the ICC two days before the Philippines' ICC withdrawal
became effective.[51][52][53]
 March 17 – The Philippines formally withdraws from the International Criminal Court after the
country's withdrawal notification was received by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations last year.[54] The court earlier launched a preliminary investigation whether it has
jurisdiction to tackle on allegations of state-sanctioned human rights violations in the Philippine
Drug War.[55][56][57][58][59]
 March 29 – Rappler CEO and journalist Maria Ressa is arrested for allegedly violating the Anti-
Dummy Law, which prohibits foreigners from intervening in the management and operation of a
Filipino media company.[60] She was released the same day after posting bail.[61][62][63] The charge
is based on Rappler's issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to the American
company Omidyar Network in 2015.[64][65][66] Ressa described her arrest as an attack on press
freedom, accusing the Philippine government of being "intolerant of journalists".[67] Presidential
Spokesperson Salvador Panelo responded, saying: "press freedom has nothing to do with the
charges… She's charged of a crime and there is a determination of probable cause hence a
warrant of arrest has been issued… She cannot be always using the freedom of the press as an
excuse to attack the administration."[68]
 March 30 – Fourteen people are killed during the police operations across Negros
Oriental.[69][70] Human rights and farmer groups condemned the incident, whom they said that
these people were killed were merely the farmers and tricycle drivers.[71][72]
April[edit]

 April 3 – A series of video was uploaded by the account named "Ang Totoong Narcolist"
on YouTube, accusing the Duterte family, as well as former Special Assistant to the President
(SAP) Bong Go, of involving in the illegal drug trade.[73][74][75] Rodel Jayme is arrested on April 30
by the NBI for sharing "Bikoy" videos accusing President Rodrigo Duterte and his family of their
involvement in the illegal drug trade.[76][77][78][79]
 April 10 – Fossil fragments found in the Callao Cave in the Philippines reveal the existence of
the "Homo luzonensis" species of humans.[80] The species is named after the island where it was
discovered, Luzon.[81]
 April 22:
 o A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit the large parts of Luzon, leaving at least 16 person killed
and injured 81 others.[82]
o The "Oust-Duterte" matrix, containing the destabilization efforts by media organizations and
journalists against Duterte, was revealed to the public.[83][84]
 April 23 – A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit the island of Visayas with the epicenter at San Julian,
Eastern Samar less than 24 hours after the Luzon earthquake.[85]

May

 May 6 – Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claimed to be "Bikoy", a hooded-figure in the video,
reveals himself to the public where he asked for legal assistance.[86][87] Advincula also denied the
links of any political position.[88] In May 23, Advincula surrenders to the Camp Crame, where he
retracted the statement by claiming to the public that the videos were "orchestrated" by LP and
Senator Trillanes.[89] He also said that he is vowed to received ₱500,000 in exchange of being
there in the video.[90][91]
 May 13 – Philippine general elections were held.[92] Voters elects new members of the House of
Representatives as well as elect 12 members of the Senate to join the 12 winners of the 2016
Senate elections.[93]
 May 21 – Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has been denied entry to Hong
Kong due to her "security threat".[94] Though the Hong Kong did not explain the cause, the
Malacañang stated that it was a retaliation of Chinese government against Carpio-Morales for
filing an ICC criminal case against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials over the
China's land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea.[95][96]
 May 22 – Commission on Elections (COMELEC), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers
(NBOC), proclaims 12 winning senators in the midterm elections.[97] It also proclaims 51 winning
party-list members as well.[98]
 May 31 – Ewold Horn, a Dutch birdwatcher who was abducted in 2012, was killed by the Abu
Sayyaf bandits as he tried to escape captors amid military offensives in Patikul, Sulu.[99]

June

 June 8 – Religious corporation Kapa-Community Ministry International was shut down by the
authorities under the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte over the allegations of Ponzi
scheme.[100][101][102][103]
 June 9 – A fishing boat F/B Gem-Ver sank at Reed Bank after the Chinese vessel rammed the
boat.[104][105][106][107]
 June 10 – Dr. Brian Sy, owner of the WellMed Dialysis Center in Quezon City who were accused
of making "ghost" claims with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth) is arrested by
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the charges of estafa, falsification of public
documents, and violation of the PhilHealth law.[108]
 June 17 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 has found John Paul Solano, a
member of the Aegis Juris Fraternity, guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the Atio
Castillo hazing case.[109]
 June 21 – Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has been denied entry to Hong
Kong due to known reasons even if he carried a valid diplomatic passport.[110][111]
 June 27 – Several opposition groups began to file the impeachment complaints against Rodrigo
Duterte due to Reed Bank incident and his subsequent policy of "allowing China to fish in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea".[112][113][114]
 June 28 – Two suicide bombers detonate their devices in Indanan, Sulu, killing four soldiers and
two civilians.[115][116] ISIL claims responsibility.[117]
 June 29 – Tons of Canadian garbage left in the Philippines in 2013 and 2014, has finally docked
in a port on the outskirts of Vancouver and putting an end to a festering diplomatic row that
highlighted how Asian nations have grown tired of being the world's trash dump.[118]
July[edit]

 July 8 – President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded a certificate of public convenience and
necessity (CPCN) to Dito Telecommunity, the consortium of Davao City-based businessman
Dennis Uy and allowing it to operate.[119][120][121][122][123][124]
 July 11 – A resolution initiated by Iceland was adopted by the United Nations Human Rights
Council calling for an investigation on the human rights situation in the Philippines including
deaths linked to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against drugs in the
country.[125][126][127][128][129][130]
 July 13 – Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III from Daet, Camarines Norte is elected the Master
of the Order of Preachers, the head of the Dominican Order, for a nine-year term.[131] Timoner is
the first Filipino, as well as the first Asian, to be elected as such.[132]
 Since July 18 – A series of killings occurred in Negros Oriental when four police officers were
killed by the suspected communists groups.[133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140]
 July 18 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a sedition complaint against Vice
President Leni Robredo, several senators and opposition personalities in connection with videos
annotated by a certain Bikoy, who linked members of the Duterte family to illegal drugs.[141][142]
 July 26 – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a halt in all gaming operations with franchises,
licenses or permits granted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), citing
corruption.[143][144] On July 27, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has began shutting down lotto
kiosks and other gaming outlets nationwide, after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the
suspension of gaming schemes authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
(PCSO).[145] On July 30, President Rodrigo Duterte lifts the suspension of operations of lotto
game.[146] On August 22, President Rodrigo Duterte lifts the suspension on the operations of
Small Town Lottery (STL) in the country.[147] On September 28, President Rodrigo Duterte lifts
the suspension on the operations of Keno Game and Instant Sweepstakes Scratch-It
schemes.[148]
 July 27 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Batanes.[149] It was preceded by a 5.4
magnitude foreshock.[150] Nine people were killed by the combined effects of the
earthquakes.[151] A state of calamity was declared in the whole province.[152]

August

 August 2 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Proclamation No. 781, that conferred the National
Scientist title to American-educated plant geneticist and agronomist Emil Javier, who once
served as president of the University of the Philippines.[153]
 August 3 – At least 31 were killed when strong winds capsized three boats in Guimaras
Strait.[154][155][156][157][158]
 August 5:
o COMELEC cancels the nomination of former National Youth Commission Chairperson
Ronald Cardema as representative of the Duterte Youth party-list due to
misrepresentation.[159][160][161] On September 13, Cardema formally withdraws his bid as the
party-list's first nominee.[162]
o Sandiganbayan dismisses a ₱102 billion civil case filed by the Presidential Commission on
Good Government (PCGG) in 1987 against the family of former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and
 their cronies, on the involvement of former Amb. Roberto Benedicto in the allegations of
using dummies and government corporations to obtain assets.[163][164]
 August 13 – Gretchen Custodio Diez, a 28-year-old trans woman was detained by police in
Quezon City after a scuffle with a mall staff for using ladies' restroom.[165][166]
 August 20 – News reports stated that former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, the
mastermind in the rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez in 1993, "could have
walked free in the next two months" after spending 25 years in prison, citing "good conduct"
according to the document bearing the signature of Bureau of Corrections director Nicanor
Faeldon.[167] The impending release of Sanchez sparked nationwide outrage and
condemnation.[168] However, on August 22, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Bureau of
Corrections (BuCor) Director-General Nicanor Faeldon has announced that former Calauan,
Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, the prime suspect in the Murders of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan
Gomez in 1993, is not eligible under a 2013 law (RA No. 10592), that credits good conduct time
allowance (GCTA) for an early release from prison.[169] on August 26, President Rodrigo Duterte
has ordered Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor
Faeldon not to release convicted rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez due to his bad
behavior.[170] On September 2, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee begins its investigation on the
supposed early release of rape and murder convict fomer mayor Antonio Sanchez and the
controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.[171] On same day, Bureau of
Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon has confirmed that George Medialdea, Rogelio
Corcolon and Zoilo Ama, the three men who were convicted for the June 1993 rape and killing of
Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez were already dead in jail.[172]
 August 22 – Former foreign affairs chief Perfecto Yasay Jr. was arrested by Manila Police
District (MPD) officers, in relation to criminal charges allegedly committed by officials of Banco
Filipino.[173][174]

September

 September 2 – Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon has confirmed the
release of 4 persons convicted for the July 1997 murder of the Chiong sisters in
Cebu.[175][176] On September 6, Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño, the two of the four convicts of
the Chiong sisters rape-slay case, who were released by virtue of the controversial Good
Conduct Time Allowance Law, has been surrendered to the authorities.[177][178][179] On September
18, James Anthony Uy and Josman Aznar, the last two of the four convicts of the said case, has
finally surrendered to the authorities.[180]
 September 3 – The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of Atty. Jess Falcis for the
removal of a legal barrier to same-sex marriages in the Philippines, even as it said the
Constitution does not restrict marriage on the basis of sex.[181][182]
 September 4 – President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon
after the latter approved the release of several heinous crime convicts in the June 1993 rape
and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez and July 1997 rape and murder of Marijoy and
Jacqueline Chiong.[183][184] On September 5, Yolanda Camelon, wife of an inmate in NBP, testifies
in the third Senate hearing on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law and claiming that
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) employees asked ₱50,000 from her in a botched deal to buy her
husband's early release from prison.[185] On September 9, Ombudsman Samuel Martires has
ordered the suspension for six months without pay of 30 officials of the Bureau of Corrections in
connection with the release of over 1,900 convicts of heinous crimes under the Good Conduct
Time Allowance (GCTA) law.[186][187]
 September 9 – The first case of African swine fever has been confirmed by the Department of
Agriculture.[188][189] It was also confirmed that an undisclosed number of individual pigs were culled
in Rizal in a bid to contain a "suspected animal disease".[190]
 September 18 – The Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 15 has found, 8 Philippine Coast
Guard personnel, guilty of homicide, for the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman off the
northernmost province of Batanes in May 2013, which had sparked a diplomatic row
between Taipei and Manila.[191][192]
 September 20 – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has confirmed that Cadet 4th
Class Darwin Dormitorio died of injuries resulting from hazing rites, supposedly at the hands of
three upperclassmen inside the military school on September 18.[193][194][195][196][197][198]
 September 24:
o Voted 17-0, the Senate has authorized the blue ribbon and justice committees to release the
names of the rogue cops involved in the so-called "Agaw-bato" scheme, in which cops
allegedly sell the illegal drugs they seized in narcotics operations.[199]
o Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista and Brigadier General Bartolome Bacarro were
resigned to their post in the Philippine Military Academy, following the death of 20-year-old
PMA Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio due to hazing inside the academy.[200] On October
9, Cadet 1st Class Ram Michael Navarro is also resigned to his post in PMA.[201]
 September 25 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed by the PCGG against the
family of former Pres. Marcos and their cronies, on the involvement of former Amb. Bienvenido
Tantoco and others on the family's hidden wealth; decision is released to the media on October
8.[202][203][204]
 September 27 – The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an amendment to
deny entry to any Philippine official who was involved in the two-year detention of Sen. Leila de
Lima.[205][206][207]
October[edit]

 October 1 – PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde appears before the Senate's inquiry on "ninja
cops", the police officers involved in the illegal drug trade.[208] Albayalde denied the allegations of
protecting his former subordinates who were accused of misappropriating a large quantity of
illegal drugs seized in a drug raid in 2013.[209] Albayalde was later resigned on October 14,
because of the controversy.[210][211][212][213] On October 21, the PNP–Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group (CIDG) has added Albayalde as a respondent in criminal charges being
reinvestigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).[214]
 October 4 – BuCor chief Gerald Bantag orders the relief of some 300 guards at the maximum
security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.[215][216]
 October 6 – Usage of the landline numbers with an additional digit from 7 digits is officially
implemented, upon the order of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).[217]
 October 8 – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the validity of a legal provision setting the
minimum base pay for nurses in government health institutions to Salary Grade 15, but said
implementing the clause would require a law providing funds for it.[218]
 October 11 – The Supreme Court allows Filipina death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso to testify
against her alleged recruiters through deposition in Indonesia.[219][220][221][222]
 October 14 – Sandiganbayan dismisses another civil case filed by the PCGG against the family
of former Pres. Marcos and their cronies, on the involvement of Fe and Ignacio Gimenez and
others on the family's hidden wealth; decision is released to the media on October 25.[223]
 October 15 – The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has
ordered the release of the official report on the initial vote recount involved in the election protest
of former senator Bongbong Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.[224]
 October 16 – The 2019 Cotabato series of earthquakes begins, with a 6.3 magnitude
earthquake[225][226][227] that killed at least 5 persons and injuring more than 53
others.[228] Another earthquake on October 29 with a magnitude of 6.6[229] kills at least 9 people
and injures 200 others.[230] A third one on October 31, a magnitude 6.5,[231] not considered to be
 an aftershock of the second event,[232] kills at least 6 persons and injures more than 20
people.[233] The epicenters of these earthquakes are located near Tulunan, Cotabato.
 October 18 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon,
announced and recommended the filing of criminal charges against former PNP chief
Gen. Oscar Albayalde and the 13 cops who were involved in an irregular drug operation
in Pampanga in 2013.[234]
 October 31 – Cebu City has been selected to be part of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Network of Creative Cities.[235]
November[edit]

 November 5 – President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Vice President Leni Robredo as co-
chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), to handle the
government's war on drugs.[236]
 November 6 – The Department of Justice (DOJ) grants refugee status to Iranian beauty queen
Bahareh Zare Bahari, who had sought asylum in the Philippines for fear of death or detention in
her home country.[237][238]
 November 8:
o The Supreme Court extends the deadline for the ruling on the cases against Datu Andal
"Unsay" Ampatuan Jr. and nearly 200 others tagged in the massacre of 58 people in
Maguindanao province on November 23, 2009.[239][240]
o President Rodrigo Duterte abolishes the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC),
after he transferred the river's rehabilitation to the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR).[241][242][243]
 November 11 – Six soldiers were killed while 20 others were wounded in a firefight against
the New People's Army in Sitio Bangon, Brgy. Pinanag-an, Borongan City, Eastern Samar.[244][245]
 November 15 – The Sandiganbayan finds former Isabela governor Grace Padaca guilty of
malversation of public funds and graft in connection with the granting of P25 million to a private
entity for Isabela's rice program.[246][247]
 November 18 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Phivolcs said that the
earthquake happened 9:22 pm, with the epicenter Kadingilan, Bukidnon The earthquake, which
was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 10 kilometers and was felt in the following areas.[248]
December[edit]

 December 2 – Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) hits the provinces in Southern Luzon, Bicol
Region and Visayas, leaving massive damage to agriculture estimated at ₱3.67-billion, and
reported death toll of at least 17 people.[249][250][251]
 December 7 – Majority of residents of the then-named Compostela Valley approve a law
(Republic Act No. 11297) changing the name of their province to Davao de Oro in a
plebiscite.[252][253][254][255][256][257]
 December 8 – Pope Francis names Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the new
prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which is regarded as the second
most important position in the Vatican.[258]
 December 15 – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits Matanao, Davao del Sur killing 7 people and
injuring 100 others. It is the 5th earthquake to hit Mindanao in the span of 3 months.[259]
 December 19 – Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-
Reyes serves her judgment on the Maguindanao massacre case at a special court session held
at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. In the verdict, the Ampatuan brothers, Datu Andal
Ampatuan Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan, and 28 co-accused are convicted of 57 counts
of murder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua (40 years) without parole; 15 are sentenced to
6–10 years for being accessories to the crime; while 55 others are acquitted, including one of
 the main suspects, incumbent mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao Datu Sajid
Islam Ampatuan.[260]
 December 24 – Typhoon Phanfone (Ursula) hits the provinces in Southern Luzon and Visayas,
especially the areas hit earlier by another typhoon, leaving damages worth at least a billion
peso, and reported death toll of 50 people (as of Dec. 31).[261][262][263]