January 7 – A Presidential citation is given to Rhona Mahilum, who was noted for rescuing her siblings from their burning house in Negros Occidental.[1]
February 8 – Republic Act No. 8180, the law deregulating the oil industry, takes effect, ending twenty years of government control of oil companies and removing subsidies. As early as February 5, several protest rallies, demanding the repeal of the said law, have been conducted.[7]
February 14 – A Beechcraft RPC 1919 crashes upon takeoff at an airport in Jolo, Sulu, killing retired Cotabato City auxiliary bishop Antonino Nepomuceno and 3–4 other individuals. The plane crash is initially believed caused by either being shot or a pilot error.[1][9]
April 9 – President Ramos orders the release of ₱595 million, which is intended for the partial payment for pension adjustment of the World War II veterans.[1]
April 16 – As part of the government campaign to prevent polio in the country, five million children are given free anti-polio vaccines.[1]
April 27 – MILF confirms that five thousand Moro National Liberation Front rebels have been defected to their side, citing the allegedly slow implementation of the government's livelihood programs.[1]
April 29–30 – The military dispatches marine reinforcements to the disputedSpratly Islands following reports that three armed Chinese Navy warships have been deployed there. Jet fighters are deployed the following day to augment the contingent, at the same time of Manila's protest demanding Beijing's explanation. On May 3, China, stressing its sovereignty over the area, insists of legal rights to dispatch their vessels.[1]
May 9 – The World Bank approves new loans, worth about $1 billion, to the country, which will cover programs on poverty alleviation, infrastructure, and natural resources, for the next three years.[1]
May 11 – Military personnel in election duty are attacked in Lantawan, Basilan by thirty Abu Sayyaf members, with seven from the latter killed in the gunfight.[1]
May 20 – The Philippines rejects the proposed exploration with China on the disputedScarborough Shoal. Eight days later, President Ramos favors the agreement on the countries' joint development of the area.[1]
May 21 – The Philippine Coast Guard arrests twenty-one Chinese fishermen at the Scarborough Shoal. On May 30, Taiwan, claiming that the area is part of their sovereign territory, complains the said arrest. On May 26, foreign ministry officials of the Philippines and China meet in Beijing, in an attempt to de-escalate tension caused by conflicting claims in the area.[1]
May 31 – Sandiganbayan dismisses graft charges against former First Lady Imelda Marcos on the allegations of receiving bribes while she was the minister of human settlements, citing insufficient evidence.[1]
June
June 4 – Vice president Estrada resigns as chairperson of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, reportedly to prepare for his presidential bid.[1]
June 14 – FVR declares that he had authorized the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), to expedite a bill on people's initiative based on the reasons provided by the Supreme Court in rejecting the petition.[13]
Some 110 active law enforcement personnel are placed by the Intelligence community on a wanted list for alleged role in kidnapping activities.[1]
Two passenger buses are hijacked by some 200 Moro rebels, who also take some sixty commuters as hostages. Army troops pursue the hostage-takers; ten people would be killed.[1][where?]
July
July 11 – The Philippines begin to experience the effect of the Asian financial crisis; the peso devalues by 11.5% with the peso-dollar rate recorded at ₱29.45. Further depreciation causes the Philippine Stock Exchangecomposite index to go down, and mainly affects the country's economic growth, with annual nominal GDP per capita drops by 12.5% from the previous year.[14][15] The crisis affects numerous countries in East and Southeast Asia.
July 16 – Sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong were abducted and killed in Cebu City, the suspects were later sentenced to death, which in turn would lead to the abolition of death penalty in 2006.
August
August 2 – Kabankalan becomes a component city in the province of Negros Occidental through ratification of Republic Act 8297.
Passenger ferry M/V Kalibo Star, with a Cebu–Tacloban route, overturns and sinks off Biliran, leaving at least 12 dead and 13 missing.[16]
August 19 – Agila-2 communications satellite was launched from China and began commercial service. It is the first satellite of the country not acquired while in orbit.
September
September 4 – Simultaneous grenade explosions in bus terminals in Manila and Bulacan kill six and injure 105, mostly commuters.[17] A previously unknown, pro-government group Filipino Soldiers for the Nation claims responsibility for these attacks.[18][a]
September 21 – The new presidential pronouncement is released which prompts anti-charter change groups led by the Catholic Church and former President Cory Aquino's allies to step up their campaign, culminating in an indignation rally at Rizal Park in Manila, during 25th anniversary of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. declaring martial law in the country.[13]
September 23 – The Supreme Court en banc unanimously rejects PIRMA's effort, with eight justices claiming there was no enabling law and six others saying the group's petition was faulty.[21]
October 6 – MILF conducts an execution of two individuals, who had been "sentenced to death" for multiple criminal charges, in Masiu, Lanao del Sur, said to be done by the virtue of the Islamic laws, causing public criticisms.[25]
October 27 – Pres. Ramos signs a law (RA 8368), repealing the Anti-Squatting Law (Presidential Decree 772); decriminalizing squatting but maintaining sanctions against professional squatters and squatting syndicates.[23][26]
October 28 – Pres. Ramos signs a law (RA 8369) creating special courts for the cases involving children and family relations.[27]
November 5 – The Supreme Court votes, 9–2, to declare a law (RA 8180) ending government regulatory control of the oil industry as unconstitutional.[29]
November 12 – A clash between MILF rebels and armed guards of a coconut plantation in Maguindanao ends with the deaths of Amin Cusain, an MILF leader, seven rebels and two civilians.[30][a]
December
December 22 – Pres. Ramos signed seven social reform bills into law, including computerization of the electoral process in the next year and subsequent general elections (RA 8436) and autonomy for the Cordilleras.[31][32]
December 26 – Heavy rains cause the collapse of the gold mine tunnels in Mount Diwata, Monkayo, then part of Davao del Norte; five are rescued; later reports confirm that 80 miners are killed.[33]
As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987.[34] Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days".
"Transcript — The final solution". The World Tonight; ABS-CBN News. January 28, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
"Transcript — Oil deregulation". TV Patrol; ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). February 4, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
"Transcript — Solido gang lider, pumuga". TV Patrol; ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). February 24, 1997. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Philippine Network Foundation, Inc.
