2017 in the Philippines

Incumbents

• President: Rodrigo R. Duterte
• Vice President: Leni G. Robredo
• Congress :
• * Senate President: Aquilino M. Pimentel III
• * House Speaker: Pantaleon D. Álvarez
• Chief Justice: Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno

  Events

January

• January 1 – Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed and four others were wounded in a clash with government soldiers that lasted 10 hours in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.
• January 4 – About a hundred armed men, whose affiliation is undetermined, launched an attack on a prison in Kidapawan which had freed at least 158 inmates. The jailbreak resulting from the attack was reportedly the biggest in the history of North Cotabato.
• January 5 – Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, the leader of the Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines who is allegedly affiliated with the Islamic State, was killed by government security forces in Sarangani.
• January 11:
• * President Duterte signed an executive order mandating universal access to modern family planning tools.
• * President Rodrigo Duterte ordered 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 commenced with a Mass at the Manila Cathedral. Other events were held in Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, and Bataan.
• January 17:
• * The city government of Cagayan de Oro declared 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 confirmed the death of Jee Ick Joo, a South Korean businessman who was abducted in Angeles on October 18, 2016.
• January 30 – Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cleansing of the Philippine National Police after corruption was discovered at the wake of the kidnapping of the South Korean, Jee Ick-Joo.

  February

• February 1 – The Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and National Democratic Front ended their unilateral ceasefire with the Philippine government.
• February 10 – A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Surigao del Norte, killing at least 4 people.
• February 14:
• * The Philippine National Police declared a "war on illegal gambling", following the withdrawal of the police on the War on Drugs.
• * Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Gina Lopez ordered 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, lost brakes and crashed into a roadside electricity pole, killing 15 and injuring 40 on board. The accident uncovered lax regulations on safety of students on educational trips in the Philippines and prompted the Commission on Higher Education and Department of Education to issue moratoriums on field trips for the 2016–17 school year.
• February 24 – Senator Leila de Lima was arrested for 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, led a nationwide strike against the planned modernization of jeepneys, that caused suspension of classes and stranding passengers at major metropolitan areas nationwide.
• February 28 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

  March

• March 1 – After a temporary suspension due to the kidnapping and killing of a South Korean national, Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte orders the Philippine National Police to resume his controversial campaign.
• March 2 – Angel Manalo, brother of Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, and 31 others were arrested for illegal possession of firearms for the alleged shooting incident at Manalo's compound in Quezon City.
• March 9 – Members of Kadamay occupied 4,000 houses inside government housing projects in Pandi and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
• March 15 – Magdalo representative Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment complaint against Rodrigo Duterte resulting from extrajudicial killings in the Philippine war on drugs.

  April

• April 4:
• * Rodrigo Duterte ordered the resignation of Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Ismael Sueño amidst corruption allegations.
• * A magnitude 5.5 earthquake, that occurred northwest of Tingloy, hit 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, Philippine National Police Special Action Force and Abu Sayyaf in Inabanga, Bohol kills 6, including the notorious Muammar Askali, also known as "Abu Rami".
• April 17 – A bus traveling from Isabela into Ilocos region fell 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 was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.
• April 27 – The Philippine National Police discovered a secret jail cell inside a Manila Police District precinct, that raised possibilities of police abuses in Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs.
• April 28 – The bombings were a series of blasts which took place in the Manila district of Quiapo in the Philippines.

  May

• May 5 – United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard made a controversial visit on a drug policy forum in the University of the Philippines. The Philippine government complained about her unannounced visit, that shown lack of understanding on the human rights situation in Rodrigo Duterte's ongoing war on drugs.
• May 6 – just one week since the first blast, twin bombings took place about two and a half hours apart in the same district in Quiapo, Manila.
• May 15 – The majority of the House of Representatives justice committee rejected the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo representative Gary Alejano against Rodrigo Duterte for lack of substance.
• May 16:
• * President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 25, that renamed Benham Rise to Philippine Rise.
• * President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 26, that ordered a nationwide smoking ban.
• May 18:
• * Implementation of Republic Act No. 10913, or the "Anti-Distracted Driving Act", started.
• * Ferdinand Marcelino, along with his Chinese asset, Yan Yi Shou, were released after their drug-related case was dropped.
• May 19 – Implementation of Republic Act No. 10666, or the "Children on Motorcycle Safety Act of 2015", started.
• May 23 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed 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 – Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announces the deaths of ten soldiers in Marawi as a result of a "friendly fire" airstrike.
• June 2 – A gunman attacked Resorts World Manila in Pasay around midnight, caused a major panic within the complex. Around 38 people were dead, due to smoke inhalation from the fire while injuring 70 people.
• June 4:
• * In Marawi, Philippines, a ceasefire organised by Moro separatists is broken, leaving locals hungry for nearly two weeks.
• * Philippine police identified the attacker at Resorts World Manila as Jessie Javier Carlos, an ex-employee of the Department of Finance who was deeply in debt.

  July

• July 6:
• * a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Leyte, causing at least 4 deaths and 100 injuries. The quake also caused power interruptions in the whole of Eastern Visayas and nearby Bohol.
• * The Supreme Court says President Rodrigo 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.
• July 22 – In a special joint session requested by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Congress of the Philippines voted 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.

  August

• August 8 – The Supreme Court of the Philippines has junked all petitions against the burial of former President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, re-affirming its earlier ruling on 8 November 2016.
• August 9 – President Rodrigo Duterte abolishes the Negros Island Region through Executive Order no. 38, citing lack of funds to fully establish the region. Negros Occidental reverts to the Western Visayas region, Negros Oriental back to the Central Visayas region.
• August 11 – The Department of Agriculture confirms an avian influenza outbreak in the province of Pampanga.
• August 16 – A 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos was fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan, Metro Manila. The case became controversial when the official police reports differed from witness accounts and CCTV footage. This would cause a thousands of marchers to protest in EDSA heeding calls from the Philippine Catholic Church to criticize the drug war and the Senate to investigate the killing. Hundreds attend the funeral procession of delos Santos on August 26.
• August 20 – The Court of Appeals of the Philippines has junked U.S. Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton's motion for reconsideration, re-affirming its decision last April 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.

  September

• September 7 – The Senate investigates Paolo Duterte, the son of current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in an alleged methamphetamine smuggling scandal.
• September 12 – The House of Representatives of the Philippines approves a bill that limits the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to only ₱1,000.
• September 14 – The Communist-aligned Makabayan bloc leaves the majority of the Philippine lower House over disagreements due to the ongoing drug crackdown.
• September 15 – Around 1,200 members of the Philippine National Police in Caloocan are fired over allegations of crimes attributed to the police.
• September 21 – Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in 1972 by the late 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 the whole of Mindanao under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

  October

• October 16–17 – Armed group leaders, Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf and Omar Maute of Maute Group, leaders of ISIL-linked militants fighting the government in the Battle of Marawi were reportedly killed on October 16 during the operation of rescuing the hostages, according to the statement released by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. The following day President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi. While the armed forces says this meant that the conflict is substantially it pointed out that there are still skirmishes.
• October 23 – the Battle of Marawi was declared officially over by the military

  November

• November 5 – Dubbed as "Lord, Heal Our Land", led by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, about thousands of mourners of extrajudicial killing victims attend a mass held in EDSA shrine.
• November 10–12 – The Philippines hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.
• November 13–14 – The hosted the Twelfth East Asia Summit at the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.

  December

• December 19 — President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act Act.
• December 21 — A ferry sinks off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines with 251 passengers on board. At least four people are reported to have died. The toll is expected to rise, as many are still missing.
• December 22 – The Philippine Coast Guard reports that 252 passengers and crew have been rescued while five people were killed when a ferry capsized Thursday east of Manila.
• December 23 – More than 200 people are dead in the southern Philippines as a result of floods and mudslides caused by Severe Tropical Storm Vinta.
• December 28 – In Mandaluyong, law enforcers mistakenly fired at a Mitsubishi Adventure, which they thought carried suspects in a previous shooting incident, resulting in two people dead and two others injured. As a result, 10 police officers were relieved from the post.

  Holidays

• January 1 – New Year's Day
• January 2 – Special non-working holiday
• January 28 – Chinese New Year
• February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution
• April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan
• April 13 – Maundy Thursday
• April 14 – Good Friday
• April 15 – Black Saturday
• May 1 – Labor Day
• June 12 – Independence Day
• June 26 – Eid'l Fitr
• August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
• August 28 – National Heroes Day
• September 1 – Eid'l Adha
• October 31 – Special non-working holiday
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• November 30 – Bonifacio Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 30 – Rizal Day
• December 31 – Last day of the year

  Business and economy

• August 22 – Viacom International Media Networks has announced it will no longer pursue a Nickelodeon underwater theme park and resort in Palawan, Philippines. The project, announced last January, attracted controversy due to criticisms from environmentalist groups who fear the resort might destroy the area's marine ecosystem, home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites.

  Health

• August 11 – Cases of H5N6 in poultry farms in Pampanga were detected; this was the first time the avian virus was detected in the country.
• December 1 – The Department of Health temporarily suspends a school-based dengue vaccination program after Dengvaxia vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur made a statement that its product poses higher risks to people without prior dengue infection.

  Sports

May

• May 6, Football – The first match of the inaugural season of the Philippines Football League, the country's first nationwide professional football league was played.
• May 12–18, Basketball – Quezon City hosted the 2017 SEABA Championship.

  August

• August 1–7, Boxing – The Asian Junior Boxing Championship was hosted in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
• August 9–17, Volleyball – Metro Manila hosted the 2017 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship.
• August 19–30 – The Philippines competed at the 29th Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Philippines finished the 29th SEA Games in 6th place with a medal haul of 24 Golds, 33 Silvers and 64 Bronze which is the country's worst finish in 18 years. The next edition of the Southeast Asian Games will be hosted by the Philippines in 2019.

  October

• October 13 - TV5 Network Inc. re-brands its sporting division to ESPN 5 as part of a partnership with The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corporation, the co-owners of ESPN Inc.; the re-branding was held to coinciding with the start of the 2017 PBA Governors' Cup Finals. Prior to the TV5-ESPN partnership, the ESPN branding was formerly used by Fox Networks Group Asia before re-branded to Fox Sports Asia in 2014.

  Entertainment and culture

January

• January 9:
• * President Duterte issued Proclamation No. 124 declaring the month of January as the National Bible Month.
• * President Duterte declared Yabing Masalon Dulo, Ambalang Ausalin, and Estelita Tumandan Bantilan, the three female Mindanaoan weavers as National Living Treasures for 2016.
• January 30 – The coronation event of the Miss Universe 2016 pageant takes place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. It is the third time that the Philippines hosted the event. Iris Mittenaere of France was crowned as Miss Universe 2016.

  March

• March 5 – Maymay Entrata of Cagayan de Oro was hailed as the Big Winner of.
• March 11 – Noven Belleza of Victorias, Negros Occidental was hailed as It's Showtime's Tawag ng Tanghalan Grand Champion.
• March 31 – Michelle Arceo of Mandaluyong was crowned as the first ever Gandang Filipina of Wowowin.

  April

• April 30 – Rachel Peters, a Filipino-British model, was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2017 during the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas 2017 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

  May

• May 27 – JC Teves, Debbie Then, Kim Cruz and Arturo Daza was named as the four new MYX VJs at the end of MYX VJ Search 2017.
• May 30 – Angela Lehmann from Bicol was declared as the grand winner of Philippines' Next Top Model: High Street competition.

  June

• June 4 – Wacky Kiray was crowned as the first Greatest Entertainer of I Can Do That!
• June 28 – Maureen Wroblewitz, representing the Philippines, was declared as the grand winner of Asia's Next Top Model.

  July

• July 15 – Karen Ibasco, was crowned as Miss Philippines Earth 2017 during the coronation night at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, Philippines
• July 30 – Jona Soquite of Davao City won as the first The Voice Teens grand champion.

  August

• August 25-27 - The third edition of Asia Pop Comic Convention was held with international stars Ray Fisher, Tyler Hoechlin, Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, Dacre Montgomery and Sadie Sink serving as guests.

  September

• September 3 – Former UAAP Courtside Reporter Laura Victoria Lehmann was crowned as the Miss World Philippines 2017 on the Coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. She will represent the Philippines at Miss World 2017 pageant to be held in China.

  November

• November 4 – Karen Ibasco, was crowned Miss Earth 2017 held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay.
• November 5 – Wynwyn Marquez was crowned as Reina Hispanoamericana-Filipinas 2017 Held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
• November 26 – Miss Philippines Rachel Peters placing in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe 2017 pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

  Deaths

• January 1 – Mel Lopez, former Mayor of Manila and Philippine Sports Commission chairman
• January 17 – Donna Villa, actress, film producer, and wife of Carlo J. Caparas
• January 30 – Cesar C. Raval, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Bangued

• February 6 – Boy Asistio, former Mayor of Caloocan
• February 8 – Mulla Abdullah Warli, Quran translator
• February 9 – Rev. Fr. Erick Santos, preacher of Kerygma TV and former host of Family Rosary Crusade
• February 12 – Herminio Bautista, comedian, director, and former Quezon City councilor
• February 28 – Simeon Datumanong, former congressman of Maguindanao and former cabinet member

• March 2 – Cornelia "Angge" Lee, radio and talent manager of ABS-CBN
• March 5 – Roden Araneta, finalist of Clown in a Million, Yes Yes Show mainstay, actor and comedian
• March 20 – Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former senator
• March 23 – Alex Tizon, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

• April 13 – Roberto Aboitiz, Chairman of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.
• April 14 – Mariano Que, founder of Mercury Drug
• April 15 – Alfonso Yuchengco, prominent industrialist, certified public accountant, educator, and diplomat
• April 17 – Wilfredo Cruz, songwriter

• May 2 – Romeo Vasquez, actor
• May 24 – Gil Portes, film director
• May 25 – Eva Estrada Kalaw, former senator

• June 3 – Carlos "Bobong" Velez, head of Vintage Enterprises
• June 7 - Gisela Bendong-Boniel, Mayor of Bien Unido, Bohol
• June 10:
• * Leovino Hidalgo, Mayor of Balete, Batangas
• * Malang, artist
• June 17:
• * Rodolfo Fontiveros Beltran, Roman Catholic prelate and Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe and Bishop of San Fernando de La Union
• * Leopoldo S. Tumulak, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Tagbilaran and Military Ordinary of the Philippines
• June 30 – Jake Tordesillas, screenwriter

• July 14 – Nikka Cleofe Alejar, news anchor
• July 21 – Soxie Topacio, film director and LGBT activist
• July 23 – Rocky Batolbatol, mixed martial artist.
• July 30 – Reynaldo Parojinog, Mayor of Ozamiz

• August 1 – Alfie Lorenzo, talent manager
• August 2 – Bobby Ortega, member of the Baguio City Council
• August 6 – Ramon N. Villegas, Curator, essayist, art historian, collector, jeweler and poet.
• August 8 – Zeny Zabala, actress
• August 24 – Amelyn Veloso, news anchor

• September 4 – David Consunji, chairman emeritus of DMCI Holdings
• September 16 – Ernie Zarate, veteran actor, architect and author
• September 17
• *Cris Bolado, basketball player
• *Horacio Castillo III, UST Law Student called Hazing Victim
• September 23:
• * Loreto Carbonell, basketball player
• * Ric Manrique Jr., singer
• September 26 – Dominador Aytona, politician, Senator
• September 30 – Joe Taruc, radio broadcaster

• October 7 – Washington SyCip, accountant, founder of the Asian Institute of Management and SGV & Company
• October 8 – Henedina Abad, politician, member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines for Batanes
• October 9 – Tony Calvento, veteran journalist
• October 11 – Emmanuel Borlaza, film director
• October 14 – Lourdes Quisumbing, former Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports
• October 15 – Chinggoy Alonzo, actor
• October 16
• * Isnilon Hapilon, Islamist militant
• * Omar Maute, Islamist militant.
• October 18 – Ricardo Vidal, Roman Catholic prelate and cardinal, Archbishop of Lipa, Cebu and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
• October 21 – Juan de Dios Pueblos, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Kidapawan and Butuan
• October 22
• * Jeffrey Claro, super-flyweight boxer
• * Baldo Marro, actor and director

• November 4 – Isabel Granada, actress and singer
• November 11 – Franco Hernandez, television personality and singer,
• November 19 – Elias Tolentino, basketball player,
• November 20 – Alex Dacanay, journalist, chess player, bass singer,
• November 26 – Christian Vicente Noel, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Talibon

• December 5 – Elenito Galido, Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Iligan
• December 7 – Charito Planas, lawyer and former Vice Mayor of Quezon City
• December 8 – Flerida Ruth Pineda-Romero, judge and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• December 21 – Mona Sulaiman, olympic sprinter