2016 in the Philippines details events that occurred in the Philippines in 2016.
Incumbents
President: Benigno Aquino III (Liberal) (until June 30) Rodrigo Duterte (PDP–Laban) (from June 30) Vice President: Jejomar Binay (UNA) (until June 30) Leni Robredo (Liberal) (from June 30) Congress: Senate President: 16th Congress: Franklin Drilon (Liberal) (until July 25) 17th Congress: Aquilino Pimentel III (PDP–Laban) (from July 25) House Speaker: 16th Congress: Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Liberal) (until July 25) 17th Congress: Pantaleon Alvarez (PDP–Laban) (from July 25) Chief Justice: Maria Lourdes Sereno
Events
January
January 4 – The Sandiganbayan Special Second Division orders Alfonso Lim Sr., a crony of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, to return to the government all properties he acquired. January 7 – The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division denies the bail petition of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with his alleged involvement in the PDAF scam.
January 8 – The Department of Foreign Affairs files a diplomatic protest against China's test flights in the Kagitingan Reef located across the disputed South China Sea. January 12 – The Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States signed in 2014. January 13 – Zamboanga City declares a state of calamity due to the onslaught of El Niño phenomenon and its negative effects to the farmlands. January 14 – President Aquino vetoes House Bill No. 5842, which intends to increase the pension of the members of Social Security System. January 15 – Munap Saimaran, one of the bandits in the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings, is arrested in Sulu. January 19: President Aquino approves Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reforms Act of 2016 that will enable reforms in strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) political system. North Cotabato declares a state of calamity after damages due to the 2016 El Niño reached over ₱200 million, including damage due to drought and rats. January 20: Former Iglesia ni Cristo evangelical worker Lowell Menorca II is arrested by Manila Police District policemen in civil clothes without any warrant of arrest showed due to libel charges filed by SCAN International Lanao del Norte chapter while he trying to attend a hearing in Court of Appeals. The INC categorically denied the involvement in commotion between the policemen and Menorca. (see 2015 Iglesia ni Cristo leadership controversy) The Office of the Ombudsman orders effectively the dismissal in service of Quezon City District 2 Councilor Roderick Paulate and District 1 Councilor Francisco Calalay and two city liaison officials on the hiring of "ghost employees" in 2010. January 21 – Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's Special Enforcement Service, is arrested in a buy-bust operation at a shabu laboratory in Santa Cruz, Manila. January 24–31 – The 51st International Eucharistic Congress is held in Cebu. January 26 – The Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee concludes its hearings on the corruption allegations against Vice President and UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay. January 27 – The Bangsamoro Basic Law fails to pass on its final reading in the House of Representatives before January. But due to no proper quorum in the Congress, the bill had no chances to pass in the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress. Aside from the BBL, Aquino administration's priority bills, the Anti-Dynasty, Anti-Discrimination and the Freedom of Information bills, "killed" in the 16th congress as the Session will temporarily adjourned in preparation for the 2016 elections. January 31 – In the latest report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Philippines places second in the list of most dangerous places for journalists.