2006 in the Philippines

January

• January 27 – Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, who escaped from the Philippine Army headquarters on December 14, was recaptured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Faeldon and other junior officers of the AFP launched the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003, where they demanded President Arroyo and then Defense secretary Angelo Reyes to resign.

February

Southern Leyte mudslide

• February 1 – The Revised-Value Added Tax (R-VAT) was implemented, causing a hike in prices of consumer goods.

Wikinews has related news: Scores killed in Manila game show stampede

• February 4 – A stampede occurred during the first anniversary of ABS-CBN's television program Wowowee at the PhilSports Complex, causing the deaths of 74 people and the wounding of about 400 others.

Wikinews has related news: 85 rescued, thousands feared dead in Philippine landslide

• February 17 – After heavy rains in the preceding ten days, a mudslide occurred on the town of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, killing fifty people, but with 958 people still missing the death toll is expected to rise dramatically.

Wikinews has related news: Arroyo declares state of emergency due to coup attempt in Philippines

• February 24 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 11:25 am declared a state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1017 after a failed coup attempt and street protests commemorating the 20th anniversary of the People Power Revolution. The protesters converged at the EDSA Shrine led by Vice President Teofisto Guingona were dispersed right after the proclamation. The protesters at EDSA-Santolan led by Prof. Randy David were dispersed violently by the police. Several leftist and rightist leaders were arrested or were under the threat of arrest within the next seven days.

March

• March 3 – The President declared the lifting of the state of emergency via Proclamation No. 1021.
• March 10 – The Department of the Interior and Local Government orders barangays to conduct barangay assemblies for the adoption of a new constitution.
• March 24 – The Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales was installed as Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI at a ceremony at Rome.

April

• April 20 – The Supreme Court declared that a part of Executive Order No. 464 as unconstitutional, thus paving way for the resumption of Congressional inquiries.
• April 25 – The Supreme Court ruled that a part of the government policy of Calibrated Pre-Emptive Response as unconstitutional.

May

Typhoon Caloy over the Philippines

• May 3 – The Supreme Court ruled that the Proclamation No. 1017 was constitutional, although a part of General Order No. 5 as unconstitutional.
• May 11 – Typhoon Caloy (international name: Typhoon Chanchu) made landfall on Samar. On the next day, it made landfall on Mindoro. Caloy caused the deaths of 41 and $1.9 million in damages.
• May 18 – Mountaineer Leo Oracion reached the summit of Mount Everest via the Nepalese side, becoming the first Filipino to do so, although another mountaineer, Dale Abenojar claimed that he reached the summit first via the Tibetan side, on May 15.

June

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• June 2 – Four U.S. Marines facing rape charges in the Philippines see their accuser in court for the first time as the formal trial begins in a case that was filed in December, stemming from an incident at a Subic Bay bar. The case has prompted protests and calls for the Visiting Forces Agreement to be amended or scrapped. (Reuters)
• June 3 – The deaths of three Philippines soldiers by the communist New People's Army is confirmed. The ambush by NPA guerrillas took place on Wednesday in Balbalan, Kalinga. The NPA also says two more government soldiers were killed and four were wounded in another attack on Wednesday on an army outpost in Pinukpok town, but the government could not confirm this. (AFP)
• June 8 – U.S. Navy investigators who looked into rape allegations against four marines in the Philippines are barred by the U.S. embassy from testifying in the trial of the four. The plaintiff's attorney characterised the move as a "clear attempt on the part of the US government, to keep us from getting the evidence that we need and from showing the court the truth." (AFP)
• June 13 – A group calling itself Taong Bayan at Kawal, or Masses and Soldiers, claims for an early-morning bomb blast at a police headquarters in Manila, as well as earlier blasts at Manila office building on June 6, an explosion outside the home of an ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week and two simultaneous bomb blasts in police stations on June 11. The group denies it was behind a bombing in Lipa City that injured nine people on June 11. (AFP)
• June 19:
  • 900 villagers are evacuated as Mount Bulusan spews ash at Sorsogon. (Manila Standard)
  • The Philippine government announces strategies to end communist insurgency by the New People's Army, promising "dramatic results in two years" by boosting military spending and development budgets in poor areas. (Manila Standard)
• June 24 – President Arroyo signed the repeal of the death penalty law, as stated in Republic Act No. 9346.
• June 26:
  • Released after four days in captivity in Nigeria, two kidnapped Filipino are expected to return to the Philippines within the week. (inq7.net)
  • The opposition bloc files impeachment charges against President Arroyo.

July

• July 14 – Mayon Volcano in Albay spews out lava and ash. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level from level 1 to level 3, prompting evacuations.
• July 15 – The Professional Regulation Commission admitted that there was a leakage of test questions in the June 2006 Nurses Licensure Examination

Wikinews has related news: DNA in underwear matches Philippines rape victim

• July 24:
  • Senator Manuel Villar is elected as the new Senate President, replacing Franklin Drilon at the resumption of the regular session of Congress.
  • President Arroyo suspends classes in Metro Manila and other areas due to Typhoon Glenda (international codename: Kaemi).
  • On her State of the Nation Address, President Arroyo proposed for the creation of 5 new super regions, pushed for constitutional change, among others.

August

• August 7 – Mayon Volcano intensifies its volcanic activity, leading the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to raise the alert level from level 3 to level 4, which prompted mandatory evacuation procedures.
• August 11 – An oil spill off the coast of Guimaras occurs, causing widespread environmental damage.
• August 16 – The administration block at the Judicial Committee of the House of Representatives junks the last impeachment case against President Arroyo.
• August 24 – The House of Representatives plenary junked the impeachment case against President Arroyo, voting 173–32.
• August 31 – The petition of Sigaw ng Bayan group for a people's initiative for amendments in the constitution was trashed by the Commission on Elections on the basis that there was no enabling law.

September

Typhoon Milenyo (Xangsane) shortly before landfall on Samar Island.

• September 28 – Typhoon Milenyo causes widespread damage throughout Luzon, causing at least two deaths, destruction to property, suspension of classes and the Metrorail, closing down of government offices, suspension of trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange, the paralyzation of the South Luzon Expressway, cancellation of flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and a Luzon-wide blackout. (INQ7.net)

October

• October 10 – At least six people were killed in a bombing at Makilala, Cotabato during the town fiesta. Earlier in the day, a blast wounded at least four people at Tacurong City. (BBC)
• October 11 – A bomb exploded at Cotabato City, killing and hurting no one. North Cotabato officials blame the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as the perpetrators. (Reuters)
• October 17 – Supporters of Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City barricade themselves at the front of city hall as the Department of Interior and Local Government hands out their suspension order against the Mayor, Vice Mayor and seven councilors. (INQ7.net)
• October 25 – The Supreme Court, voting 8–7, junks the petition of the Sigaw ng Bayan (Shout of the People) group for a people's initiative in the constitution. (INQ7)
• October 31 – Voters in Maguindanao's 29 municipalities have approved the creation of a new province to be composed of 10 towns, named Shariff Kabunsuan. It became the Philippines’ 80th province and the 6th in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

November

Super typhoon Reming over Bicol.

• November 4 – Avelino Cruz resigns as Secretary of National Defense. (INQ7.net)

Marianne Puglia (Miss Earth Fire 2006), Hil Hernández (Miss Earth 2006), Amruta Patki (Miss Earth Air 2006), Catherine Untalan (Miss Earth Water 2006)

• November 26 – Miss Earth 2006 beauty pageant was hosted by the Philippines at the National Museum Grounds at Manila. Miss Chile won the pageant.
• November 29 – The House of Representatives loosened it rules on amending the Constitution. (INQ7.net)

December

Wikinews has related news: "Super typhoon" triggers fatal mudslides in Philippines Philippine typhoon toll may hit 1,000

• December 1 – Albay declares a state of calamity has Typhoon Reming causes 198 deaths and counting. (AP via Yahoo! News)

(INQ7.net)

• December 3 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a "state of national calamity" as 406 perished after Typhoon Reming caused several mudslides around Mayon Volcano. (BBC News)
• December 4 – U.S. Marine Daniel Smith found guilty in the Subic rape case; 3 other U.S. Marines acquitted.
• December 7 – The House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for a Constituent Assembly, without a concurrent resolution of the Senate. (INQ7.net)

The Cebu International Convention Center, the venue of the 12th ASEAN Summit.

• December 8:
  • Due to Typhoon Seniang threatening Cebu, the 12th ASEAN Summit was postponed. (BBC News)
  • Dinagat Islands became the 81st province after the voters approve of its secession from Surigao del Norte. (SunStar)
• December 12 – The House of Representatives backtracked on its plans for a constituent assembly and instead pushed for a constitutional convention. (INQ7.net)
• December 13 – The National Disaster Coordinating Council revised the death tolls for Typhoon Reming, with 720 dead, 2,360 injured and 762 missing persons. (ReliefWeb)
• December 16 – Abra Representative Luis Bersamin, Jr. was gunned down during a wedding ceremony at Quezon City. (INQ7.net)
• December 27 – Khadaffy Janjalani's remains had been recovered near Patikul, on Jolo Island, reported by the Philippine military. DNA tests had been ordered to confirm the discovery.
• December 30 – Convicted American serviceman Lance Corporal Daniel Smith was freed from a Makati jail late evening Friday and transferred to the US Embassy on orders of the Philippine government.^[1]