January[edit]

January 2 Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed that an eight-year-old girl was a victim of
attempted rape inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on New Year's Day. The incident was the
latest scandal the prison facility had faced since the raids last December 2014.[2]
January 6 Importer Lilia Cruz also known as Leah Cruz, Bureau of Plant Industry Director Clarito
Barron, and 119 other persons were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation of direct
bribery and violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at
the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged garlic cartel last year.[3]
January 8 An inmate died and 19 were hurt after a grenade exploded in the maximum security
compound of the NBP.[4] This lead Bureau of Corrections order a lockdown of 14,500 prisoners in
the compound on January 9, suspending their visitation rights. Gang leaders were isolated from
the rest of the prisoners.[5]
January 9 The Supreme Court has declared its decision on the unconstitutionality of the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly termed as the pork barrel funds, final and
executory. It can be remembered in November of the previous year, the said court held that
"PDAF and previous pork barrel funds violated the constitutional principle of separation of powers
in allowing lawmakers to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, post-enactment authority in
vital areas of budget execution."[6]
January 12 Sandiganbayan had found former Board of Nursing member Virginia Diodola-Madeja
guilty of violating the Anti-Corrupt Practices Act and the PRC Modernization Act of 2000 and was
sentenced to 7 years in prison for leaking questions in the June 2006 Nursing Licensure
Examinations. In addition to her imprisonment, she was also ordered to pay a fine of 100
thousand pesos and was barred from holding any public office. [7]
January 14 A bomb destroys a transmission tower in Pagalungan leaving much of the provinces
of Maguindanao and North Cotabato without power.[8]

Pope Francis' arrival ceremony at Villamor Airbase.

January 1519 Pope Francis visited the country for a five-day state and pastoral visit.[9] The
pope also visited the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte which were affected by the said typhoon
last November 2013.[10] This was the first papal visit the Philippines received in the 21st century.
[11]

January 21 The Supreme Court en banc dismissed several petitions regarding the
disqualification of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada; 11 justices voted against the disqualification,
while 3 voted for it.[12]
January 23 An explosion occurred near the bus terminal in Barangay Guiwan, Zamboanga City;
2 people were killed and 53 were injured. The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were tagged behind the
explosion after the failed jailbreak attempt of several ASG members in the prison. [13]

The 44 police officers who perished during the clash.

January 25 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were
killed after a clash took place in Tukalinapao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao against armed fighters
including those from theMoro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters. PNP-SAF's objective is to pursue Zulkifli Abdhir also known as Marwan
and Basit Usman as part of Oplan Exodus and killed the former. The deaths of the PNP-SAF
officers ignited debate on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law which will be the foundation of a
new autonomous entity called Bangsamoro.[14][15]
January 26 The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cited Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun
Binay and five others in contempt and are now facing arrest due to the alleged continued snub
of Binay and other Makati officials on an ongoing Senate probe.[16] 3 days later, Binay was
arrested and forced to appear in the Senate hearing but the detention was deferred leading to
his release.[17]
January 27 The Department of Justice rejected the appeal by United States Marine Lance
Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton to drop the murder charges against him over the Death of
Jennifer Laude, a transwomanFilipina. The trial began on March 23.[18]
January 29 Despite of the incident in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, The Government of the
Philippines and the MILF signed a protocol for the decommissioning of rebel firearms in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.[19]
January 31 Two Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed after the PAF trainer aircraft SF-
260FH Number 1034 crashed around 300 meters off the shoreline of Barangay Bucana, Nasugbu,
Batangas while attending their performance for the upcoming 70th Anniversary of the liberation
of Nasugbu from the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II.[20]
February[edit]
February 2 Former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos was acquitted on the
2007 electoral sabotage case by the Pasay Regional Trial Court. [21]
February 3 The Supreme Court affirms the unconstitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration
Program on its new ruiling. Voting 13-0, the SC partially granted the government's Motion for
Reconsideration on the DAP. Projects and programs that not covered by the General Approriations
Act is valid and the authors may be liable.[22]
February 5 The Department of Foreign Affairs filed two protest notes questioning China for
ramming Filipino fishing boats and the collecting of giant clams over the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo
de Masinloc).[23]
February 14 50 rebel members of the New People's Army figured in a failed attack and shootout
inside a police station in Mati, Davao Oriental. 4 soldiers and a NPA member were killed. [24]
MV Princess of the Stars which had capsized on June 21, 2008 at the height of Typhoon Frank.
February 16 Maritime Industry Authority has formally cancelled the license of Sulpicio Lines,
now operating as Philippine SpanAsia Carrier, for carrying passengers in the sea due to the
sinking of MV Princess of the Starsin 2008.[25]
February 18 Masbate Governor Rizalina Lanete surrendered to the Philippine National Police
Criminal Investigation and Detention Group authorities after the Sandiganbayan had issued a
warrant of arrest against her in connection with her participation in the PDAF scam.[26][27]
February 24 The Supreme Court had decided on the affirmity of dismissal of PMA Cadet Aldrin
Jeff Cudia, last year due to honor code violations. [28]
February 25
Former Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives party-list Representative Edgar Valdez
surrendered to sheriff of Sandiganbayan. Valdez is facing one count of plunder and seven counts
of graft for allegedly receiving P57.78 million worth of kickbacks from the PDAF scam.[29]
AFP declared its all-out offensive campaign against the MILF break away group, the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters.[30] On March 3, Maguindanao was placed under the state of calamity
due to the continuing battle between the military forces and the BIFF. [31] In an encounter
happened on March 7, the AFP confirmed that 139 members including commanders of the BIFF
were killed, including a kin of BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato.[32] On March 30, The Armed Forces
of the Philippines announced the termination of the all-out offensive against the rebel group. [33]
February 28 A total of 26 people were killed among them were 2 soldiers and 24 members of
the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.[34]
March[edit]
March 13 The Third ASEAN Chief Justices' Meeting, led by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno and her counterparts from the ASEAN countries, was held in Boracay
Island, Aklan.[35]

Japanese battleship Musashi (1944). The wreck of the ship was found on March 4 in the Sibuyan
Sea.
March 4 The wreck of the World War II Japanese battleship Musashi was found by Paul Allen and
his team in the Sibuyan Sea. Musashi was one of the two biggest Japanese battleships ever built;
it was attacked and sunk by American aircraft on October 24, 1944 in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[36]
March 6 The Office of the Ombudsman's special panel of investigators filed complaints against
Vice President Binay, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and 22 individuals, in connection with the
overpriced Makati City Hall II Parking Building. Ombudsman will start the preliminary probe after
the filing of the cases.[37] On March 11, The Ombudsman was suspended Makati Mayor Junjun
Binay and other city officials for 6 months in connection with this case. Binay has not followed
the decision.[38] On March 16, plunder and graft charges were filed against Vice President Binay
and Mayor Binay for the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II. The elder Binay
was then city mayor and the younger Binay a city councilor at the time of the construction. [39] On
the same date, the Court of Appeals has released a temporary restraining order for the
preventive suspension ofMayor Binay.[40] On April 6, The Court of Appeals has indefinitely
extended its halt order on the preventive suspension of embattled Makati City Mayor Junjun
Binay, as the appellate court issued a writ of preliminary injunction in favor of the local chief
executive.[41] On the other hand, Acting Mayor Romulo Pea was ordered by the Department of
Interior and Local Government to step down and return from his previous post as vice mayor.
[42]
On November 11, Dismissed Makati Mayor Binay has won his case in the Supreme Court
against the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to his case. [43]
March 8 British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney filed a case for the continued detention of
former president and Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo against the
government before the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a body under the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights.[44] On October 2, The United Nations Working Group on
Arbitrary Detention has released its opinion that the detention of former President Arroyo
"violates international law" and is "arbitrary on a number of grounds." [45]
March 9
DFA confirmed the execution of Joven Esteva, an Overseas Filipino Worker who was charged of
murder on the killing of his employer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2007.[46]
Sajid Ampatuan, the son of Andal Ampatuan Sr., has been ordered to be temporarily released by
a Quezon City court after he posted bail for an amount of P11.6 million; Sajid was charged with
murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre onNovember 23, 2009 that had killed 57
people including 31 journalist.[47]
March 15 Justice for Islamic Movement founding chairman and former vice chairman of
the BIFF, Mohamad Ali Tambako and five others were arrested in General Santos City.[48]
March 17 The Philippines submitted its 3,000-page document containing additional volumes of
arguments, evidence and maps seeking to nullify Chinas sweeping claim over the resource-
rich South China Sea to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.[49]
March 20 The Armed Forces of the Philippines transported 17 suspected members of the Abu
Sayyaf Group from the Zamboanga City jail to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig over
security concerns raised by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. [50]
March 22 The first of three new C-295 medium lift aircraft under the Philippine Air
Force Modernization Program arrived at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.[51]
March 26 President Aquino III has signed Republic Act No. 10656 into law that postpones
the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to October 2016.[52] This postponement was the fourth
time. On March 25, the Commission on Elections had deferred the SK elections to April 25.
[53]
Previously, the election was supposedly to be held on October 28, 2013; it was again
postponed to February 21, 2015.[54][55]
April[edit]
April 6 Gemma Adana, the Municipality Mayor of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay was abducted by a
heavily armed group in her house.[56] On October 12, Mayor Adana has been released after over
six months in captivity.[57]

On April 14, Janet Lim Napoles was found guilty for the serious illegal detention case.
April 14 In connection with the serious illegal detention case, Janet Lim Napoles, the
mastermind of the PDAF Scam, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and was sentenced
of reclusion perpetua.[58]
April 20 The Armed Forces of the Philippines has released the pictures of the continue
reclamation of China in the South China Sea.[59]
April 21
President Aquino has approved Republic Act No. 10660 into law that strengthening the
Sandiganbayan, which is currently handling high-profile cases including those related to the
alleged pork barrel scam by expands the number of divisions from the current five to seven. [60]
The Supreme Court voided an agreement between the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic-
TIM for the P300-million diagnostics and repair of the 80,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan
machines for the 2016 polls.[61]
April 22 SC released a Temporary Restraining Order for the memorandum issued by
the Commission on Higher Education on the removal of Filipino and Literature college subjects as
part of the K to 12 education program. [62]
April 29 The execution of the convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso was postponed.[63]
[64]

May[edit]

Abdul Basit Usman

May 3 Abdul Basit Usman, the most wanted bomb expert in the country, was killed by a MILF
group unit, and not by his followers, as early reported in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.[65][66][67][68]
May 6 The Court of Tax Appeals has lifted the warrant of arrest it issued against Jeane Catherine
Napoles, the daughter of Janet Lim Napoles, after she failed to show up for her arraignment on a
P17.46-million tax evasion case.[69]
May 8
The Commission on Elections conducted recall election in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Incumbent
mayor Lucilo Bayron successfully defended his seat. [70][71]
Philippine Ambassador to Pakistan Domingo D. Lucenario died in a helicopter crash in Pakistan;
other diplomats and the two helicopter pilots, who were with Lucenario, were also killed in the
said incident.[72]
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front registers the United Bangsamoro Justice Party as its vehicle to
run in future elections.[73]
May 11 The Court of Appeals has frozen 242 bank accounts and insurance policies belonging to
Vice President Jejomar Binay, some members of his family and close associates, who are
suspected of being his dummies.[74]
May 13 At least 72 were killed in a big fire inside the Kentex Manufacturing slippers factory in
Brgy. Ugong, Valenzuela City.[75][76] The incident was the third worst fire in Philippine history. [77]
May 20
The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the complaint filed by former Iloilo Provincial
Administrator Manuel Mejorada against Senator Franklin Drilon, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson,
DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., and other officials involved in the construction of the Iloilo
Convention Center.[78]
Jennifer Dalquez, an OFW from General Santos City was sentenced to death for killing of her
employer who attempted to rape her on December 7 last year.[79]
June[edit]
June 3 The United States Embassy turned over to the Philippine government a check amounting
to some $1.3 million as the second tranche of proceeds from the forfeited assets of
former Armed Forces of the Philippines military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. [80][81]
June 4 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III agreed
to start negotiations on an accord for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as the
two nations aim to bolster security ties amid China's increasing assertiveness at sea. [82]

First Page of the Executive Order creating Negros Island Region (click for larger version).
June 5 President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order 183 that created the Negros Island
Region to improve the delivery of public services in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental,
which forms part of the new region.[83]
June 16 The first phase of decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front's fighters had
begun.[84]
June 22 Vice President Jejomar Binay resigned from his post in President Benigno Aquino
III's Cabinet as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and
presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers is effective immediately. [85]
June 25
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against Optical Media Board
chairman Ronnie Ricketts and four others for allegedly allowing the return of confiscated
copyright violating DVDs and VCDs to the Sky High Marketing Corporation in 2010. [86]
Raul Pangalangan, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, was elected
judge of the International Criminal Court.[87]
All local airlines can now enter the European airspace after the European Commission had
removed the Philippines from the European Union Air Safety List. [88]
June 29
The Philippines has halted the repair of its airstrip on Pagasa Island of the disputed Spratly
Islands due to its pending suit at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The
Hague challenging China's claim over the waters.[89]
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has approved the preventive suspension
of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay in connection with his supposed involvement in the alleged
anomalous construction of a ten-storey building in Makati Science High School.[90]
June 30
The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed former Philippine National Police chief Director
General Alan Purisima and 10 other officials for entering into an anomalous contract with courier
service Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011.[91]
The Philippines and six other countries defer joining the newly established Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank.[92][93]
The Supreme Court of the Philippines asks the government to respond to a petition seeking to
repeal a law banning same-sex marriage in the country.[94]
Miriam Defensor Santiago filed a lawsuit against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement in the Supreme Court.[95]
July[edit]
July 1 The Philippine National Oil CompanyExploration Corporation announced the discovery of
a major natural gas reserves of 71-billion cubic feet. [96]
July 2 MB Kim Nirvana, a motorized banca bound for Camotes Islands from Ormoc, Leyte which
carried 173 passengers, capsized off the coast of Ormoc killing 62 of its passengers. [97][98]
July 3 Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has ordered the filing of graft charges against
former Metro Rail Transit 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III and five incorporators of Philippine
Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation in connection with alleged irregularities in the
MRT-3's interim maintenance contract.[99]
July 7 Oral arguments on the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea had begun in The
Hague, Netherlands.[100]

Hernando Iriberri
July 10 Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri, former 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army was
designated as the newest AFP Chief of Staff in the turn-over ceremonies led by President Aquino
III in Camp Aguinaldo. Iriberri's predecessor Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang has retired from military
service.[101]
July 14 Dir. Ricardo Marquez, director for operations since December 2013 has been named the
new chief of the Philippine National Police.[102]
July 15 Major General Eduardo Ao, who was linked to the disappearance of activist Jonas
Burgos in 2007, was instated the new chief of the Philippine Army.[103]
July 17 Nine miners were killed when a mining site collapsed following a rain-induced landslide
in Caluya, Antique.[104]
July 20 Vice President Jejomar Binay filed a P200-million damage suit arising from alleged
libelous statements against Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano;
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales; former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado; and eight
others.[105]
July 21 President Benigno Aquino III signed into law two of his priority economic bills: the
Philippine Competition Act (Republic Act 10667), as well as amendments to the 50-year-old
Cabotage Law (Republic Act 10668), during a ceremony in Malacaang attended by members of
Congress.[106][107]
July 23 The Iglesia ni Cristo has expelled Tenny Manalo, the widow of INC's former executive
minister Erao Manalo, and their son, Angel Manalo after they appeared in a YouTube video
claiming their lives are in danger and that some ministers have allegedly been abducted. [108]
July 24 The Department of Science and Technology's free Wi-Fi project was launched.[109]
July 27 President Aquino III delivered his 6th and final State of the Nation Address at Batasang
Pambansa.[110]
July 28 Two environmental groups Basel Action Network and BAN Toxics have submitted the
case questioning the Canada's imported trash in the Philippines to the Basel Convention.[111]
August[edit]
August 7 Senator Gringo Honasan, former CIBAC congressman and now TESDA chair Joel
Villanueva, and 7 other former and incumbent lawmakers were charged before the Office of the
Ombudsman in connection with the pork barrel scam.[112]
August 13 The Sandiganbayan Third Division has found probable cause to put former Supreme
Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on trial for perjury over his alleged failure to declare some his
assets in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. [113]
August 16 Pamana, a 3-year old Philippine Eagle, was shot dead inside her forest sanctuary
in Mount Hamiguitan, 2 months after she freed in time for Independence Day. [114]
August 17 Philippine Air Force receives 10 brand-new helicopters for combat utility and attack
to be used for internal security operations. [115]
August 18 The Supreme Court has granted the bail petition of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the
three senators facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.
[116]

August 20
Two Coast Guard officers who kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group were escaped after the
massive operation by the military against the terrorist group in Sulu. [117][118]
President Aquino has signed Republic Act 10669 into law that declaring August 18 of every year
as Jesse Robredo Day in honoring the late interior and local government secretary Jesse
Robredo who died in a plane crash in the waters off Masbate City on August 18, 2012.[119]
August 21 The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of two Alpha Phi Omega (APO)
members for the hazing of University of the Philippines-Los Baos student Marlon Vilanueva in
2006, the first conviction under Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. [120]
August 24 President Benigno Aquino III has given instructions for the Bureau of Customs to stop
the physical inspections of balikbayan boxes unless X-ray and K-9 examinations give rise to
suspicions that they contain prohibited items. [121] On the Senate hearing last September 3,
Bureau of Customs chief Alberto Lina went apologized to the inconvenience brought about the
alleged opening of balikbayan boxes by Customs personnel. [122]
August 2731 Iglesia ni Cristo members staged demonstrations near the DOJ office and later in
EDSA to call on Sec. De Lima to focus on important issues such as the SAF 44 case and not on
the case filed by an ex-INC minister against Sanggunian members. They protests on alleged
violations of the separation of church and state. [123]
September[edit]

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue

September 7 The PNP's Highway Patrol Group started their duties as traffic enforcers deployed
in the Epifanio De los Santos Avenue (EDSA), particularly in 6 major chokepoints where traffic
build-up had identified.[124]
September 8 President Aquino III has announced the appointment of former Liberal Party (LP)
Secretary General Mel Senen Sarmiento as the Secretary of Interior and Local Government,
replacing Mar Roxas.[125]
September 10 Human Rights Watch criticized the response of President Benigno Aquino III to
reports on the murders of an indigenous Lumad family and the alleged rape of an
indigenous Manobo girl by soldiers andmilitiamen of the Philippine Army.
The Philippine Commission on Human Rights condemned the killings and linked the Bagani
paramilitary group and the Armys 36th Infantry Battalion who it believes were of the opinion
that a Manobo school was an "NPA School".[126][127][128]
September 11 The Basilan Regional Trial Court, officially declared the Abu Sayyaf Group as a
terrorist group.[129]
September 18 1 person was killed in a bomb explosion on a bus in Zamboanga City; 28 were
injured.[130]
September 20 Joel Reyes, former Palawan governor and his brother, Mario, former Coron,
Palawan mayor were arrested by Thai police due to overstaying in Phuket, Thailand. The Reyes
Brothers are primary suspects in the killing of Palawan environmental journalist Gerry Ortega in
January, 2011, the two deported back to Manila, four days later. [131]
September 21 3 foreigners and a Filipina were kidnapped by dozen armed men at a resort in
the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte.[132]
September 30 Former Abra governor Vicente Valera, found guilty with 2 counts of murder,
sentenced to up to 40 years in prison in relation to the killing of his rival, former Abra
Representative Luis Bersamin in 2006.[133]
October[edit]
October 9 The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal in service and the eventual
perpetual disqualification to run in any political positions for former Makati City Mayor Junjun
Binay, in connection with the overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. [134]
October 13 The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front signed a
unified declaration calling for the approval the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law as an embodiment
of each others separate peace pacts with Malacaang. [135]
October 1728 PAGASA confirmed that the haze from Indonesia had reached
Mindanao. Typhoon Lando and the northeast monsoon were linked to the haze that had affected
the island.[136][137] The haze affected operations of airports in Mindanao and Visayas. [138] On
October 28, PAGASA declared that the country was free from haze. [139]

Typhoon Lando's Track

October 18 46 dead, 82 injured and 268,877 families were affected after heavy rains and floods
due to Typhoon Lando shuts down Luzon.[140]
October 21 Ombudsman sacked five officials of the Technology Resource Center, particularly
Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan for their alleged participation in the PDAF scam. [141]
October 26 President Benigno Aquino III signed the amended Public Employment Service Office
bill into law during the 15th National PESO Congress at the Philippine International Convention
Center in Pasay City.[142]
October 30 The United Nation-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled that it has the
jurisdiction to hear the maritime claim of the Philippines against China. [143]
November[edit]
November 3 The Court of Appeals had started to hear the writ of amparo and habeas
corpus petitions of expelled Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca II against the leaders of the
church, including executive ministerEduardo Manalo and three members of the Sanggunian, in
connection with the illegal detention and abduction of Menorca by the church officials. [144]
November 4 The UN Department of Safety and Security warned their staff assigned in the
country against the tanim-bala modus at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[145]
November 5 The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity officially declared Tubbataha Reef in Sulu Sea as
the 35th heritage park.[146]
November 17 Voted 5-4, the Senate Electoral Tribunal denied the petition filed by aspiring 2016
presidential candidate Rizalito David for the disqualification of Grace Poe as Senator.[147]
November 1819 The Philippines hosted the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation,
organizing a series of economic meetings in the country until November, which was highlighted
by the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting near the end of the summit. [148][149]
November 20 Princess Jacel Kiram and Malaysian politician Nurul Izzah Anwar posted a photo
demanding Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to free opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim which
was received negatively in that country, prompting Nurul Izzah to apologize. [150]
November 24 The Quezon City RTC has found Jason Ivler, the principal suspect in the ambush of
the Renato Ebarle, Jr. son of former Presidential Chief of Staff Undersecretary Renato Ebarle, Sr.
guilty over the crime of murder, happened 6 years ago. He was sentenced reclusion perpetua or
at least 30 years in jail and ordered to pay more than P9.3 million pesos in damages to the
Ebarle family members.[151]
November 25 Eight armed men who have identified as supporters of ISIS, together with an
Indonesian bomb trainer, were killed in an encounter by military troops in Palimbang, Sultan
Kudarat.[152]
November 28 The first two of the 12 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jets, made by the Korea
Aerospace Industries, that the government purchased from South Korea arrived at the Clark Air
Base in Angeles, Pampanga.[153]
December[edit]
December 1
U.S. Marine L. Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, suspect in the death of Jennifer Laude one year ago,
was found guilty of homicide by the Olongapo Regional Trial Court with a sentence 612 years in
prison.[154] The court also ordered for Pemberton to pay 4.5 million (US$130,000) to the Laude
family.[155]
Grace Poe was disqualified by the COMELEC 2nd Division from being president after failing to
reach the 10-year residency requirement for a presidential candidate. [156]

President Benigno Aquino III inspecting a FA-50PH Golden Eagle

December 5 The Philippine Air Force receives two FA-50 lead-in fighter jets, two C-295 medium-
lift fixed-wing aircraft and six Augusta 109 attack helicopters for territorial defense, search and
rescue, disaster response and combat operations. [157]
December 9 The Office of the President has ordered a 60-day preventive suspension order
against Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama for alleged culpable violation of the constitution, grave
abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression over the destruction of local government
projects in his city.[158]
December 11 Grace Poe's certificate of candidacy is cancelled by the COMELEC 1st Division
after a 2-1 vote, barring her from running as president after failing to comply with the ten-year
residency requirement by thePhilippine Constitution.[159][160]

Typhoon Melor (Nona) approachingSamar

December 1317 Typhoon Melor (locally called Nona) makes landfall in Northern Samar and
made more landfalls before dissipating. Forty-two are killed during the typhoon and damages
cost over 6 billion ($136 million).[161][162]
December 18 President Aquino declared a state of national calamity due to the onslaught
of Typhoon Melor (locally named as: Nona) that hit different provinces in Luzon and Visaya