2017 in the Philippines

2017 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in 2017.

2017 was designated as Visit ASEAN Year 2017.

Incumbents

President: Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban) Vice President: Leni Robredo (Liberal) Congress (17th): Senate President: Aquilino Pimentel III (PDP–Laban) House Speaker: Pantaleon Alvarez (PDP–Laban) Chief Justice: Maria Lourdes Sereno

Events

January January 1 – Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are killed and four others were wounded in a clash with government soldiers in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. January 4 – About a hundred armed men of unknown affiliation, launch an attack on a prison in Kidapawan, freeing at least 158 inmates in what is reported as the biggest jailbreak in the history of Cotabato. January 5 – Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, the leader of the Ansar Khalifa Philippines which is allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State, is killed by government forces in Sarangani. January 11: President Duterte signs an executive order mandating universal access to modern family planning tools. President Duterte orders the unwarranted arrest and deportation of Indian nationals, especially Punjabis, involved in the 5–6 money lending scheme. January 16–20 – The 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy commences with a Mass at the Manila Cathedral. Other events are held in Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, and Bataan. January 17: The city government of Cagayan de Oro declares a state of calamity in response to flooding caused by heavy rainfall brought by a low pressure area in the vicinity of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay and the tail-end of a cold front. The National Bureau of Investigation confirms the death of Jee Ick-Joo, a South Korean entrepreneur who was abducted in Angeles City on October 18, 2016. January 30 – President Duterte orders the cleansing of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after corruption was discovered in the wake of the kidnapping of Jee Ick-Joo.

February February 1 – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA) end their unilateral ceasefire with the Philippine government. February 10 – A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hits Surigao del Norte, killing at least four people. February 14: The PNP declares a "war on illegal gambling", following its withdrawal on the war on drugs. Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Gina Lopez orders the closure of 75 mines for violations of environmental laws. February 21 – A tour bus carrying college students bound for a camping site in Tanay, Rizal, loses control of its brakes and crashes into a roadside electricity pole, killing 15 and injuring 40 on board. The accident uncovers lax regulations on safety of students on educational trips in the country and prompts the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to issue moratoriums on field trips for the 2016–17 school year. February 24 – Senator Leila de Lima is arrested for alleged violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, related to her alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal. February 27 – Jeepney drivers, mostly belonging to the transport groups PISTON and Stop and Go Coalition, lead a nationwide strike against the planned modernization of jeepneys, that causes class suspensions and strands passengers at major metropolitan areas nationwide. February 28 – President Duterte signs the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

March March 1 – After a temporary suspension of the war on drugs due to the kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo, president Duterte orders the PNP to resume his controversial campaign.Duterte to call police back to war on drugs March 2 – Angel Manalo, brother of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, and 31 others are arrested for illegal possession of firearms for an alleged shooting incident at Manalo's compound in Quezon City. March 9 – Members of Kadamay (Kalipunan ng Damayan Mahihirap) occupy 4,000 houses inside government housing projects in Pandi and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan. March 15 – Magdalo representative Gary Alejano files the first impeachment complaint against president Duterte alleging culpability in the extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs.

April April 4: President Duterte orders the resignation of Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Ismael Sueño amid corruption allegations. A magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs northwest of Tingloy, Batangas, causing damage to buildings. The province soon declared a state of calamity after the quake. April 11 – A clash between the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PNP Special Action Force and Abu Sayyaf in Inabanga, Bohol kills six, including the notorious Muammar Askali, also known as "Abu Rami". April 17 – A bus traveling from Isabela to Ilocos Sur falls off a ravine in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, killing 31 on board. The accident, resulting from poor vehicle maintenance, is one of the most deadliest road accidents in the Philippines. April 26–29 – The 30th ASEAN Summit is held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay. April 27 – The PNP discovers a secret jail cell inside a Manila Police District precinct, that raised possibilities of police abuses in the war on drugs. April 28 – The bombings take place in the district of Quiapo in Manila.

May May 5 – United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard takes part in a drug policy forum in the University of the Philippines. The Philippine government says it would file a complaint with the UN regarding the visit. May 15 – The majority of the House of Representatives justice committee rejects the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo representative Gary Alejano against president Duterte for lack of substance. May 16: President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 25, that renames Benham Rise to Philippine Rise. President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 26 declaring a nationwide smoking ban. May 18: Implementation of Republic Act No. 10913, or the "Anti-Distracted Driving Act", is started. Ferdinand Marcelino, along with his Chinese informant, Yan Yi Shou, are released after their drug-related case is dropped. May 19 – Implementation of Republic Act No. 10666, or the "Children on Motorcycle Safety Act of 2015", is started. May 23 – President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 216 declaring a 60-day martial law in Mindanao following clashes between government forces and the Maute group in Marawi.

June June 1 – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announces the deaths of ten soldiers in Marawi as a result of a "friendly fire" airstrike.Philippines soldiers killed in 'friendly fire' air strike in Marawi June 2 – A gunman attacks Resorts World Manila in Pasay around midnight, caused a major panic within the complex. Around 38 people die due to smoke inhalation from the fire while 70 others are injured. June 4: In Marawi, a ceasefire organised by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is broken, leaving locals hungry for nearly two weeks. The PNP identifies the attacker at Resorts World Manila as Jessie Javier Carlos, an ex-employee of the Department of Finance who was deeply in debt.Ex-DOF employee is Resorts World gunman – police Rappler.comResorts World gunman identified as Jessie Javier Carlos, a Filipino

July July 6: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Leyte, causing at least four deaths and 100 injuries. The quake also causes power interruptions in the whole of Eastern Visayas and nearby Bohol.WATCH, LOOK | At least 2 dead in Magnitude 6.5 Leyte quake The Supreme Court says President Duterte can declare martial law in the whole Philippines. Two days prior, the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of the constitutionality of Proclamation No. 216 which declared Martial Law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao, in response to the Marawi crisis.SC ruling: Duterte can put 'entire PH' under martial law July 22 – In a special joint session requested by President Duterte, Congress votes 261–18 to extend the martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017. July 23 – The nationwide ban on public smoking is implemented. July 30 – Sixteen people, including Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and his wife, are killed in a police drug raid in Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental. The Parojinog family had been previously identified with their ties to the illegal drug trade, as well as the organized crime group Kuratong Baleleng.Ozamiz mayor, 14 others killed in predawn police raid

August August 8 – The Supreme Court junks all petitions against the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, re-affirming its earlier ruling on November 8, 2016. August 9 – President Duterte abolishes the Negros Island Region (first created in 2015 by his predecessor Benigno Aquino III) through Executive Order no. 38, citing lack of funds to fully establish the region. Negros Occidental reverts to the Western Visayas region, while Negros Oriental reverts back to the Central Visayas region.Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region August 11 – The Department of Agriculture confirms an avian influenza outbreak in Pampanga. August 16 – 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos is fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan. The case becomes controversial when official police reports are contradicted by witness accounts and CCTV footage. This causes thousands to protest on EDSA heeding calls from the Catholic Church to criticize the drug warThousands demand end to killings in Duterte's drug war. and the Senate to investigate the killing.LIVE: Senate hearing on the death of Kian delos Santos Hundreds attend his funeral on August 26.Philippine teen, killed by police in drug war, buried after thousands turned up for funeral procession August 20 – The Court of Appeals of the Philippines junks U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton's motion for reconsideration, re-affirming its decision in April 2016 upholding the 2015 homicide ruling of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court; citing the defendant's arguments as mere "rehash of issues". The Court of Appeals also upheld the payment of ₱ 4.32 million to Jennifer Laude's family for "loss of earning capacity". Pemberton faces 10 years in prison.CA upholds 10-year jail time for U.S. Marine who killed Jennifer Laude

September September 7 – The Senate investigates Paolo Duterte, the son of President Duterte, in an alleged methamphetamine smuggling scandal.Duterte's Son Denies Meth Smuggling Claims as Case Rivets Manila September 12 – The House of Representatives approves a bill that limits the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to only ₱1,000 (US$20).P1,000 budget for CHR? Netizens react on House decision with #CHRBudgetCheaperDuterte drug war: Philippines cuts rights body's budget to $20 September 14 – The Makabayan bloc leaves the majority of the House of Representatives over disagreements due to the ongoing drug war.Makabayan bloc leaves House majority September 15 – Around 1,200 PNP personnel in Caloocan are fired over allegations of abuse.Philippines Orders Retraining, Reassignment of 1,200 Police After Alleged Abuses September 21 – Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in 1972 by former President and dictator Ferdinand Marcos, nationwide protests – also known as "National Day of Protest" — are conducted by various groups against the government's implementation of war on drugs and the ongoing martial law in Mindanao under the Duterte administration.

October