January

January 7 – The Philippine Army ordered the relief of Lieutenant Colonel Napoleon Pabon, the commanding officer of
the 2nd Infantry Battalion, in connection with the release of a "manipulated" photo of the surrendered of 300 New
People's Army rebels in Masbate in December 2019.[1]

January 8 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, increasing the salaries of over 1.4
million government employees starting this year.[2]

January 12 – The Taal Volcano begins to erupt, prompting PHILVOCS to raise the alert level to 4 until January 26.[3][4]
The eruption was the first major eruption of Taal since 1977.[5][6] In response, President Rodrigo Duterte signed
Proclamation No. 906 on February 21, declaring a state of calamity in the Calabarzon region for one year unless lifted.[7]

January 15 – The Philippine government has imposed a total deployment ban to Kuwait after a National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) autopsy revealed the grim circumstances surrounding the death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn
Villavende in the Gulf state in December 2019.[8] On February 13, the ban was officially lifted, as the two governments
reached an agreement for better working conditions of overseas Filipino workers.[9]

January 16 – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to charge former Philippine National Police
chief Police General Oscar Albayalde and a dozen police officers over an allegedly anomalous anti-drug operation in
Pampanga in November 2013.[10]

January 20 – Three Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials Ramoncito Roque, Maribel Bancil and Veronica Buño, were
ordered dismissed from service by the Ombudsman in connection with the questionable implementation of the Good
Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), a controversy that broke out in August 2019.[11]

January 21 – The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and ex-PNP
Special Action Force chief Getulio Napeñas of graft and usurpation charges for their involvement in the anti-terrorist
operation that led to the deaths of 44 SAF commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.[12]

January 22 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11467, which hikes the excise taxes on alcohol and
imposes new duties on heated tobacco and vapor products effective January 1, 2020.[13]

January 30 – The Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 88 founds Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, the
recruiters of overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso guilty of illegal recruitment in a separate case filled by Lorna
Valino, Ana Marie Gonzales, and Jenalyn Paraiso.[14]

January 31 – The Sandiganbayan found former MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol III and PH Trams incorporator Arturo
Soriano, guilty of graft and violation of Procurement Law, for awarding MRT3's maintenance contract to an unqualified
joint venture, PH Trams and CB&T, in 2012.[15]

February

February 3 – A state of calamity is declared by the provincial government of Davao Occidental, due to the African Swine
Fever outbreak, a first for the region.[16][17]

February 5 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has recommended the filing of criminal charges against individuals
involved in the Good Conduct Time Allowance controversy, including the near-release of former Calauan, Laguna mayor
Antonio Sanchez, the mastermind in the June 1993 rape and murder of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan
Gomez.[18] On February 12, the Senate adopts the said recommendation.[19]
February 8 – A group of archaeologists led by the National Quincentennial Committee, unearthed the grave of Filipino
World War II guerilla and scientist Maria Orosa at the Malate Catholic School compound in Manila, nearly 75 years since
her death on February 13, 1945.[20]

February 10 – The DOJ cleared Vice President Leni Robredo and several opposition figures of sedition but indicted
former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 others for "conspiracy to commit sedition" over an alleged ouster plot
against President Rodrigo Duterte.[21] On February 14, a Quezon City court issued an arrest warrant against Trillanes
and nine others and four days later, Trillanes posted a bail for the case.[22][23]

February 11 – The Philippines announced that it will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the U.S..[24] The
announcement is rescinded on June 1.[25]

February 15 – President Rodrigo Duterte leads the inauguration of the commercial operations at Sangley Airport in
Cavite, 8 months after he ordered the start of its general aviation operations.[26]

February 17:

 President Rodrigo Duterte signs Executive Order No. 104, or the Improving Access to Healthcare Through the
Regulation of Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicines, that imposing a limit on the prices of several medicines
and drugs.[27]
 Senator Risa Hontiveros has revealed the alleged "pastillas" modus operandi within the BI that allows the entry
of Chinese nationals to the country in exchange for ₱10,000 each.[28] On February 20, President Rodrigo
Duterte has relieved all Immigration officials and employees involved in the said bribery scheme that allegedly
gives VIP treatment to Chinese visitors.[29] On September 2, the NBI has filed a complaint against 19 BI
personnel in connection with the said scheme.[30] On September 22, Joshua Paul Capiral, a NBI official was
arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly accepting bribes from Bureau of Immigration personnel
involved in the said scheme.[31] On September 28, DOJ files extortion and graft charges against NBI legal
assistance chief Joshua Paul Capiral and his brother Christopher John, an immigration officer, before the Manila
Regional Trial Court for allegedly accepting bribes from Bureau of Immigration personnel involved in the said
scheme.[32]

February 18 – Former Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chairman and New People's Army (NPA) commander
Rodolfo Salas was arrested in Angeles City, Pampanga.[33]

February 19 – Former official of BuCor Fredric Anthony Santos was shot dead in Muntinlupa.[34]

February 21:

 The NBI filed a complaint for murder against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board member Sandra Cam
and six others over the killing of Charlie Yuson III on October 9, 2019.[35]
 The BIR shut down the operations of SAFYI, the first Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) to be given a
license by the government, after it failed to pay the 5% franchise tax.[36]
 Pres. Duterte signs Executive Order No. 106, that prohibits vaping in public and prohibited the sale and
manufacture of unregistered e-cigarettes due to their potential health risks.[37]

February 24 – The Senate public services committee begins its hearing on the issues surrounding the franchise renewal
of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.[38][39][40] On February 26, President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the apology
of ABS-CBN over his unaired campaign ads during the 2016 presidential election.[41]

February 27 – The Philippine government has lifted the suspension on negotiations and signing of loan and grant
agreements with countries that sponsored and voted in favor of a United Nations investigation on the country's human
rights situation.[42]
February 28 – The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former PNP chief Alan Purisima of eight counts of perjury over his
alleged failure to declare his wealth in full for 6 years.[43]

March

March 2 – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirms that suspected syndicates brought in an estimated $370 million into
the Philippines in December 2019, with the help of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police
(PNP) and airport police escorts.[44]

March 3 – Ombudsman Samuel Martires has filed graft and indirect bribery charges against former Nayong Pilipino
Foundation, Inc. (NPFI) chairman of the board Patricia Ocampo-Desiongco and five other ex-NPFI officials for accepting
free transportation to and accommodation in Jeju Island, South Korea from a private firm during negotiations on a lease
contract involving the same firm.[45]

March 9 – President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 922, that declaring a public health emergency over the increasing
number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country.[46]

March 12 – Code Red Sublevel 2 was declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and issuing a partial lockdown on
Metro Manila to prevent a nationwide spread of the said disease.[47]

March 16:

 The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed reports that bird flu or the H5N6 avian flu has been detected
in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.[48]
 President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 929, placing the entire Philippines under a state of calamity amid the
ongoing situation of COVID-19.[49] On September 16, President Duterte signs Proclamation No. 1021, that
extends until September 12, 2021, the state of calamity in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[50][51]
 The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued Memorandum Order March 1, 2020, that all
broadcast and communications companies would have the authority to stay on air with their permits
automatically renewed while the entire Luzon is placed under enhanced community quarantine due to the
coronavirus pandemic.[52]

March 17 – Luzon is under enhanced community quarantine due to coronavirus pandemic in the country as announced
by the President in his evening address last March 16, 2020.[53] This expanded the community quarantine imposed in
Metro Manila on March 15.[54] Quarantine measures in other parts of the country of varying levels were imposed as
well in the following months.[55]

March 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11469), a
measure that gives him additional powers to strengthen government's response to the coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) pandemic after Congress urgently deliberated and passed the measure within a day.[56][57] On July 1, the
Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition filed by Jaime Ibañez, that questioning the constitutionality of the
Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.[58]

April

April 6 – Diwata-1, the Philippines' first micro-satellite for scientific earth observation built by Filipino scientists, has
been officially decommissioned after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.[59]

April 14 – The government has begun its mass testing processes on the persons suspected of having COVID-19.[60]
April 17 – The Supreme Court has conducted a special en banc session, the first-ever done online in its 119-year history
as the judiciary seeks to deal with urgent matters amid a Luzon-wide lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[61]

April 24 – The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines received criticism after releasing a music video about the relations of
China and the Philippines amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), because of its message amid China's assertion
of rights to the West Philippine Sea and the areas which the Philippines claims and occupies in the South China Sea.[62]

April 27:

 15 senators, files a resolution that seeks to amend the Senate rules to allow the conduct of plenary sessions and
committee hearings via teleconference amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.[63]
 President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 111, which abolished the Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), which served as his chief message-crafting body.[64]
 April 28 – Taiwan has rejected the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) moves to deport
Elanel Egot Ordidor, an overseas Filipino worker over social media posts critical of President Rodrigo Duterte,
saying the Philippines must first consult with Taiwan before taking any drastic action.[65]

May

May 1 – Pope Francis names former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to the rank of Cardinal-Bishop, the
highest title of a Cardinal in the Catholic Church.[66]

May 4:

 The radio and television franchise for ABS-CBN has expired.[67] Renewal of the franchise is uncertain due to
tense relations of the network with the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.[68] On May 5, ABS-
CBN's broadcasting operations were signed off the air at 7:52 p.m. due to the cease and desist order of the NTC
to stop broadcast operations of the said network because of the expiration of its franchise granted to them on
March 30, 1995.[69] On June 23, the Supreme Court en banc has dismissed Solicitor General Jose Calida's
petition questioning ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise, ruling that the issue was "moot and academic".[70] On
August 25, the Supreme Court has dismissed ABS-CBN's petition challenging the National Telecommunications
Commission's cease and desist order that forced it to shut down broadcast operations on May 5.[71] On
September 9, NTC recalled the frequencies assigned to ABS-CBN, which it said was warranted in the absence of a
legislative franchise.[72][73]
 President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to make the
payment of premiums voluntary for overseas Filipino workers in light of opposition against premium rate
increases.[74]

May 6 – President Duterte signs Executive Order No. 114, that ordered the implementation of the "Balik Probinsya,
Bagong Pag-asa" Program to decongest Metro Manila and promote countryside development.[75]

May 8 – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition filed by Atty. Dino de Leon, that seeking the disclosure of
President Rodrigo Duterte's health records.[76] On September 8, SC denies with finality the bid of Atty. de Leon, to
compel President Duterte to disclose his health records.[77][78]

May 13 – The National Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA) deputy administrator Mocha Uson over a coronavirus-related fake news.[79]

May 23 – BRP Jose Rizal, the country's first missile-capable warship has arrived in Subic, Zambales, after a 5-day maiden
journey from South Korea.[80]
June

June 3 – The Senate Electoral Tribunal has denied the petition filed by Reymar Mansilungan and Efren Adan that seeking
to declare Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III ineligible for the senatorial term 2019–2025.[81]

June 4 – The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) has released its
comprehensive report on the widespread killings in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte.[82]

June 5 – Former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio was arrested by the
members of National Bureau of Investigation in his home in Quezon City over the execution of judgment in one of the
criminal cases against him pending before the Sandiganbayan.[83]

June 15 – The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 convicts Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer
Reynaldo Santos Jr., of cyber libel over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to alleged illegal activities.[84] On July
25, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Ressa and Santos, Jr. in
the cyber libel case that they were convicted.[85]

June 19 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11475, that officially transferring the capital and seat of
government of Rizal province to Antipolo from Pasig.[86]

June 21 – An annular solar eclipse was witnessed by many astronomers and skywatchers throughout the country.[87]

June 25 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11476, that mandating the inclusion of Good Manners and
Right Conduct (GMRC) classes in the K-12 program.[88]

June 29 – Four soldiers were killed following a shooting incident with policemen in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.[89]
On July 21, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal complaints against members of the local police in
Sulu allegedly involved in the said shooting incident in Jolo.[90] On September 7, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service has
filed administrative and criminal complaints against cops involved in the said shooting incident.[91]

July

July 3 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11479), a measure that giving
the government more powers to act against persons or groups falling under what critics say is a dangerous and vague
definition of terrorism.[92]

July 8 – Pope Francis names former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as a member of the Pontifical Council
for Inter-religious Dialogue, the Catholic Church's central office on the promotion of understanding among religions.[93]

July 10 – After 12 hearings which started last May 26, the House of Representatives, particularly on the Committee on
Legislative Franchises, voted 70–11 to deny the franchise application of ABS-CBN.[94]

July 17 – President Rodrigo Duterte signs Republic Act No. 11480, which allows the president to move or reschedule the
start of the school year in an event of a state of emergency or state of calamity.[95]

July 21 – Joel Apolinario, the founder of the Kapa Community Ministry International and 23 others were arrested in
Surigao del Sur.[96]

July 23 – Four soldiers died and another was injured after a Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter crashed while taking off
at the Cauayan Air Station in Isabela.[97]

July 27 – Dr. Roland Cortez, the chief of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), who was criticized over its
handling of COVID-19 cases in the said facility in April 2020, was shot dead in Quezon City.[98] On August 25, the Quezon
City Police District (QCPD) has filed murder complaints against seven suspects who were allegedly involved in the killing
of Dr. Cortez.[99]
July 29 – The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) has confirmed the detection of
the avian influenza A(H5N6) virus in an egg-producing farm in San Luis, Pampanga.[100]

July 30:

 After 9 years of hiding, former Dinagat Islands congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr., who was accused in the case of
murder of Alona Bacolod-Ecleo in 2002 and anomalous 3 construction projects which undertaken between 1991
and 1994, during his term as mayor of San Jose, Dinagat Islands, was arrested in San Fernando, Pampanga.[101]
 Wesley Barayuga, the board secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), was shot dead in
Mandaluyong City.[102]

August

August 4 – The Senate Committee of the Whole begins its hearing on the alleged irregularities and fresh controversies
hounding state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).[103] On August 7, President Rodrigo Duterte
has formed a task force to investigate alleged corruption at the said agency.[104][105] On August 18, Ombudsman
Samuel Martires has issued a six-month long preventive suspension against 13 PhilHealth officials.[106] On August 24,
PhilHealth senior vice president for the legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. has tendered his irrevocable resignation from
his post.[107] On August 26, PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales has resigned from his post amid allegations
of corruption plaguing the state insurer and his battle with lymphoma.[108] On August 31, President Rodrigo Duterte
has named former NBI chief Dante Gierran as the new head of PhilHealth.[109] On September 14, President Rodrigo
Duterte has approved the recommendations of a task force to file criminal and administrative charges against Morales
and several other executives in connection with irregularities in the state insurer.[110] On October 2, the inter-agency
task force created to investigate alleged anomalies in the said agency has filed criminal complaint before the Office of
the Ombudsman against Morales and several other agency officials over fund disbursements through the controversial
Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), a system where advance releases are made to hospitals in case of
unforeseen events.[111] On October 8, PhilHealth has announced that a total of 43 senior officers have either tendered
their courtesy resignation or retired from service.[112]

August 6 – The government has formally launched the One Hospital Command system which aims to improve the
referral system and interoperability of public and private health care facilities catering to COVID-19 patients in the
country.[113]

August 10 – Randall "Ka Randy" Echanis, the peasant activist and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
peace consultant, was killed in Quezon City.[114]

August 13 – Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Anduljihad "Idang" Susukan, was arrested in Davao City.[115]

August 18 – A 6.6–magnitude earthquake hit the island of Masbate, leaving one person killed and injured 43 others.
[116]

August 24 – At least 15 people were killed while 75 others were injured in twin explosions that ripped through Jolo,
Sulu.[117]

August 25 – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senator Richard J. Gordon, announced and recommended
the filing of criminal charges against former health secretary Janette Garin, former budget Secretary Florencio Abad and
former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president & CEO Alexander Padilla for allegedly diverting
₱10.6 billion of funds to construct barangay health centers and procure dental trucks which supposedly had not been
utilized at all in December 2015.[118]

August 26 – Former Davao del Norte Representative Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo Jr., has been convicted of graft over
the deal between his family-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Co., Inc. and the Bureau of Corrections in 2003.
[119]
September

September 1:

 The Senate Committee of the Whole, announced and recommended the filing of criminal charges against former
PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and several other officials over the
alleged irregularities in the state health insurer.[120]
 The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition of Citizens Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE COVID-19),
that asking the tribunal to compel the government to conduct proactive mass testing for COVID-19, efficient
contact tracing and isolation, and effective treatment of positive cases.[121][122]
 The Office of the Ombudsman has issued Memorandum Circular No. 1, that limited the public access to
Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials, allowing release only for official
investigations, by court order, or upon authority from officials themselves.[123][124]

September 3 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) begins its dumping of powdery-white
sand on the baywalk of Manila Bay as part of the rehabilitation program of the said bay.[125] The ₱389-million
beautification project received criticism from the environmental groups.[126] On September 8, Cebu Governor
Gwendolyn Garcia has issued a cease and desist order on two companies involved in the extraction and sale of the
dolomite used in the said beautification project.[127]

September 7 – President Rodrigo Duterte has granted an absolute pardon to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott
Pemberton who was convicted of killing of transgender Filipino woman Jennifer Laude in 2014.[128] On September 13,
the Bureau of Immigration has deported Pemberton from the Philippines.[129]

September 8 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formally named Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo
Duterte, as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines.[130][131]

September 9 – The Supreme Court (SC) has unanimously denied the petition of Atty. Larry Gadon that seeks to nullify
the law that renamed the Manila International Airport as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[132]

September 11 – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act No. 11494),
which provides a COVID-19 relief package worth ₱165.5 billion.[133][134]

September 15:

 The Supreme Court has rejected a request of Atty. Larry Gadon and the Office of the Solicitor General to secure
the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for a possible
quo warranto petition.[135][136][137][138]
 The Supreme Court has junked the plea for protective writs filed by Francis and Relissa Lucena, the parents of
Alicia Jasper Lucena, the alleged missing activist after it was found out that she was not missing after all.[139]
[140]

September 16:

 Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has joined Former Foreign Affairs Secretary
Albert del Rosario and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in a landmark case seeking to punish Chinese
leader Xi Jinping over his country's destructive activities in the South China Sea.[141][142][143][144]
 The European Parliament has adopted a resolution urging the Philippine government to drop charges against
Rappler chief Maria Ressa and renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.[145][146][147][148]
[149][150]
 Four personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were killed after a military helicopter was crashed in Lantawan,
Basilan.[151][152]
September 22 – The Sandiganbayan has upheld its December 2019 decision ordering associates of the late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos to return assets off their shares in Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (ETPI) to the
Philippine government for being ill-gotten.[153]

September 23 – Facebook has removed a network of fake accounts and pages allegedly linked to the Philippine military
and police due to coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB), a violation of its community standards.[154]

September 29-- The Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 has convicted seven men of multiple murder and multiple
attempted murder over the deadly explosion at the Roxas Night Market in Davao City in 2016.[155]

September 30- Voted 184–1–9, members of the House of Representatives has rejected House Speaker Alan Peter
Cayetano's offer of resignation in a swift move that came in the wake of reports that his term-sharing agreement with
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco was to take effect in October.[156][157]

 The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has required the Commission on Elections and
the Office of the Solicitor General to comment on pending issues in the election protest filed by defeated
candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.[158][159]

October

October 1 – The Sandiganbayan has cleared Terence King Ong, the head of slipper maker Kentex Manufacturing
Corporation as well as Valenzuela City fire officials of criminal charges in connection with the May 13, 2015 factory fire
that left at least 74 people dead and scores other injured.[160]

October 5 – The start of the 2020–21 school year in public schools has officially begun - a few months later than usual
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[161][162]

October 12–13 – 2020 Philippine House of Representatives leadership crisis: 186 majority members of the House of
Representatives elect Lord Allan Jay Velasco as Speaker of the House of Representatives, unseating incumbent Alan
Peter Cayetano amidst the political dispute over the Speakership outside the Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa
Complex.[163] Cayetano declares Velasco's election as "illegal" and maintains that he is the Speaker.[164] The crisis was
later ended the next day when Rep. Cayetano announced his resignation from his post after lawmakers formally
installed Velasco as their new leader at the Batasang Pambansa.[165]

October 12 – The Philippine Statistics Authority has begun its pre-registration for the national identification (ID) system,
with a target to register 10 million people.[166][167]

October 23 – Former acting chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and Surigao del Sur
Representative Prospero Pichay Jr., and two others, were have been convicted of graft over the LWUA's illegal grant of
₱1.5 million in government funds to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in 2010.[168][169]

October 31 – Super Typhoon Rolly makes landfall in Catanduanes. It was the strongest tropical cyclone observed
worldwide in 2020 and broke 1-minute wind records.[170][171]

November

November 11 – Typhoon Ulysses made landfalls on: the island town of Patnanungan, Burdeos and on the Luzon
landmass: General Nakar as a high-end Category 2-equivalent typhoon.[172][173]

November 13 – A water level of 192.7 metres (632 ft), 0.3 meters below the dam's spilling point, forced the Magat Dam
to continue releasing water. All seven gates of the dam were opened at 24 meters as the dam released over 5,037 cubic
metres (1,331,000 US gal) of water into the Cagayan River as numerous riverside towns experienced massive flooding.
[174][175]

December

December 20 – Police officer Jonel Nuezca fatally shoots civilians Sonya Gregorio and her son, Frank, in Paniqui, Tarlac,
causing renewed discussion over police brutality.[176]

December 25 – The Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has formally declared the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and
its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist groups.[177]

HOLIDAYS

 January 1 – New Year's Day

 January 25 – Chinese New Year
 February 25 – 1986 EDSA Revolution
 April 9:
o Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
o Maundy Thursday
 April 10 – Good Friday
 April 11 – Black Saturday
 May 1 – Labor Day
 May 25 – Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan)[179]
 June 12 – Independence Day
 July 31 – Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)[180]
 August 21 – Ninoy Aquino Day
 August 31 – National Heroes Day
 November 1 – All Saints Day
 November 2 – Special non-working holiday
 November 30 – Bonifacio Day
 December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
 December 24 – Special non-working holiday
 December 25 – Christmas Day
 December 30 – Rizal Day
 December 31 – Last day of the year
Entertainment

January 10–12 – The Philippines hosted the 24th Asian Television Awards, the first to be held in the country.[235]

February 6 – Binibining Pilipinas has released the official list of the 40 candidates for the 2020 pageant.[236]

February 9 – Miss Philippines Katrina Llegado wins the title of 5th runner-up in the Reina Hispanoamericana 2019
pageant which was held in Bolivia.[237]

February 14 – The Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) organization introduced the 46 official candidates for the 2020
pageant.[238][239]

February 18 – Dual-voiced Filipino singer Marcelito Pomoy was named as 3rd runner up for the well renowned US talent
competition America's Got Talent: The Champions.[240]

February 22 – The coronation event of the Manhunt International 2020 pageant takes place at the New Frontier Theatre
in Quezon City.[241] For the second time that the Philippines hosted the event.[242] Paul Luzineau of Netherlands was
crowned as Manhunt International 2020.[243]

February 27 – Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, was recognized the world's second Trending Destination by
TripAdvisor in its 2020 Travellers' Choice Awards.[244]

March 5 – Former President Corazon Aquino and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa have been included in Time Magazine's 100
Most Influential Women of the century.[245]

March 8 – Cristine Reyes wins the best actress award at the 40th edition of the Porto International Film Festival for her
performance in the movie Untrue.[246]

March 16 – The acclaimed film Write About Love, about screenwriters who fall in love in the process of collaborating,
was recognized at the 2020 Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF).[247]

April 2 – Five Philippine representatives were included in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2020, joining a list of Asia's
top young entrepreneurs and change-makers.[248]

April 8 – 26-year-old Ryan Gersava of Sultan Kudarat has topped the World Summit Awards (WSA) Global Champion
under the Young Innovators category for 2020 with his virtual school for persons with disabilities and other
disadvantaged sectors.[249]

April 22 – Three ABS-CBN News documentaries and two GMA Public Affairs documentaries won medals in the
prestigious 2020 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.[250][251]

April 28 – ABS-CBN stars Liza Soberano and Ivana Alawi are among the early nominees in the 2020 edition of 100 Most
Beautiful Faces, an international list driven by social media.[252]

May 6 – Cebu-based artist Maria Victoria "Bambi" Beltran was selected as one of 17 laureates of the 2020 Deutsche
Welle (DW) Freedom of Speech Award.[253]

May 29 – Binibining Pilipinas candidate Maureen Montagne has declined the Miss Eco International 2019 title after
reigning queen Suheyn Cipriani of Peru got dethroned due to pregnancy and she is now competing in the Binibining
Pilipinas 2020 beauty pageant.[254]

May 31 – The Philippines has landed on Forbes' list of Rising Stars in Travel, one of seven countries cited to have
potential to become major tourist destinations.[255]

June 18 – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maasin in Southern Leyte was acknowledged by the Vatican for being the first
in the Catholic Church to switch to renewable energy.[256]
June 25 – Pope Francis appointed four priests of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen–Dagupan as the Catholic
Church's new "Missionaries of Mercy."[257]

June 30:

 Lumad Joeffrey S. Mambucon became the first Tigwahanon-Manobo doctor of medicine.[258]

 A fossil Megalodon tooth was found in Maribojoc, Bohol.[259]

July 5 – Roxanne Allison Baeyens, was crowned as Miss Philippines Earth 2020, during the coronation event of the Miss
Philippines Earth 2020, which was held for the first time through virtual contest.[260][261]

July 8 – The island province of Palawan has reclaimed the top spot in Travel + Leisure's "World's Best Islands" list for
2020 after getting the most votes from the magazine's readers.[262]

July 21 – Liza Diño, the head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), has been removed from the
executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).[263]

July 26:

 Cinemalaya 2019 audience choice awardee for full-length feature "Belle Douleur" is nominated in the 2020
Santorini Film Festival.[264]
 Tiffany Grace Uy, the University of the Philippines' highest grade record holder since World War II in June 2015,
has graduated from the UP College of Medicine Class of 2020 with Latin honors anew.[265]

July 27 – "Here, Here", a short film directed by Joanne Cesario, was selected for the 2020 Locarno Film Festival's Pardi di
domani international competition.[266]

July 28:

 Miss World Philippines announced that it acquired the Miss Supranational beauty pageant and will be sending
representatives to the Poland-based pageant.[267]
 Filipina dancer Andree Camille "AC" Bonifacio has won 2nd place in Blackpink's "How You Like That" dance cover
contest.[268]

August 16 – Heart Salvador, Cydel Gabutero, Isang Manlapaz and Kendra Aguirre, were declared as the winners of the
second season of The Voice Teens.[269]

August 19 – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has sustained its findings that the Limasawa
Island in Southern Leyte as the site of the 1521 Easter Sunday Mass, the first Catholic mass in the country.[270]

October 10 – ZOE TV channel 11 was rebranded to A2Z, which feature some contents of programs from its selected
blocktimers (ABS-CBN and Knowledge Channel), licensors and providers (CBN Asia, Trinity Broadcasting Network and
others), and ZOE's owned Light TV on the said network, after ABS-CBN and ZOE agreed with the entering of blocktime
deal on October 6.[271] This also marks the return of ABS-CBN programmings on free TV after the cease-and-desist
order by National Telecommunications Commission due to expired legislative franchise on May 5 and the denial of its
renewed legislative franchise on July 10.[272]

October 25 – The first coronation event of the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant was held at the Baguio Country
Club and Cordillera Convention Hall in Baguio City.[273] Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City was crowned as Miss Universe
Philippines 2020.
Health

January 30 – The Philippines confirmed its first case of COVID-19.[212]

February 1 – The first COVID-19 death outside China was reported in the Philippines: a Chinese tourist who recently
arrived in the country.[213][214]

February 21 – The DOJ has indicted former Health secretary Janette Garin and several other health officials over
children's deaths allegedly linked to the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.[215]

March 6 – The DOH has confirmed that two Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time in the Philippines.
[216] On March 7, the DOH and WHO confirms that the Philippines' fifth confirmed COVID-19 patient is the first case of
local transmission.[217]

March 10 – The FDA approves the use of test kits developed by scientists at the University of the Philippines to confirm
cases of COVID-19 in the country.[218] On April 3, the FDA approves the said test kits for COVID-19 developed by UP-
National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Manila HealthTek, Inc.[219] On May 20, Health Undersecretary Maria
Rosario Vergeire has announced, that the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) had
recalled its locally-made coronavirus test kits over "very minor" defects.[220] On July 19, DOH announced that the
COVID-19 test kit developed by the University of the Philippines has been approved for commercial use.[221]

March 11 – The first Filipino COVID-19 patient death, was reported in the Philippines.[222] The victim was a 67-year-old
female who was confined at the Manila Doctors Hospital.[223]

October 6 – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was elected as chairperson for the World Health Organization's
Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.