2000 in the Philippines

2000 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 2000.

Incumbents

President: Joseph Estrada (LAMMP) Vice President: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Lakas) Senate President: Blas Ople (until July 12) Franklin Drilon (July 12 – November 13) Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (starting November 13) House Speaker Manuel Villar (until November 13) Arnulfo Fuentebella (starting November 13) Chief Justice: Hilario Davide Philippine Congress: 11th Congress of the Philippines

Events

January January 4 – Rape convict Alex Bartolome is executed by lethal injection at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, the country's seventh and the last execution since the re-imposition of capital punishment in 1994 and before its abolition in 2006.—"Philippines Executes Rapist" Associated Press. Retrieved 04-12-2021.—"In the know: Death penalty" Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 04-12-2021. January 6 – The Parañaque City Regional Trial Court, in its decision dated Jan. 4, convicts Hubert Webb and seven others, two of them in absentia, sentencing them to reclusión perpetua in connection to a family murder case in the city in 1991; sentences also a former policeman, convicted of cover-up, to a lower prison term. The ruling would be upheld by the Court of Appeals, but reversed later by the Supreme Court; co-accused Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura remain at large.For the verdict:—"Hubert Webb, others found guilty in Vizconde massacre" PHNO. January 6, 2000.—"Vizconde massacre trial ends with guilty verdict" PHNO. January 7, 2000.All were retrieved January 7, 2019.Later events:—"Vizconde ruling upheld CA backs life terms in killings" (Limited access) The Manila Times. Dec. 17, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2022.For the details of the case:—"G.R. NO. 176389 & G.R. NO. 176864" Supreme Court E-Library. Dec. 14, 2010.—"The Vizconde massacre revisited" ABS-CBN News. Dec. 14, 2010.—"Vizconde massacre timeline" Philstar.com. Dec. 15, 2010.—"Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Court's rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory" Asian Human Rights Commission. Dec. 21, 2010.Unless otherwise stated, all were retrieved Oct. 8, 2021.

February February 1 – Reports from Cotabato reveal that Norberto Manero Jr., who has been serving prison sentence for the 1985 murder of Italian priest Tullio Favali, has been pardoned by President Estrada in December 1999. Following nationwide protests, the pardon is later eventually revoked, and Manero is jailed in Sarangani for a 1977 murder case. February 23–March 7 – Mayon volcano in Albay erupts, with the most violent occurred, February 28 – March 1; its status is raised to the highest, Alert Level 5, on February 24 due to its hazardous explosions with pyroclastic and lahar flows that affected parts of the province, with several thousands evacuated even outside identified danger zones.——"Mayon buries towns in ash" PHNO. Feb 29, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. February 25 – In what would be the single deadliest bombing incident in Mindanao, an explosion, allegedly by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), occur inside two passenger buses aboard a ferry boat Our Lady of Mediatrix in Ozamiz City, killing at least 45 people and injuring more than 100. Bombings also occur in a bus in Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte and,"Buses on Ozamis ferry bombed, 20 dead" PHNO. Feb 26, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022. on February 27, at a radio station in Cotabato City, all are also blamed on the MILF."Ozamis bus bombings: Death toll climbs, MILF blamed" PHNO. Feb 27, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2019.——"Radio station blast blamed on MILF." (February 29, 2000) Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. 1, 6. (Link) Retrieved July 9, 2019. February 28 – An explosion at the gold-rush site at Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley results in the deaths of 11 miners; more than 40 are hospitalized."Diwalwal gold mine tunnel death toll now 11" PHNO. Mar 3, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022.

March

March 16 – MILF rebels led by Commander Bravo attack and occupy Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte and later clash with Government troops, with more than 40 rebels, 9 soldiers and 2 civilians die in the fighting until the town is abandoned by the guerrillas and is retaken by the troops on March 18; the incident is one of the attacks occurred in several municipalities in the Lanao provinces."Erap in Lanao battle zone; warns MILF" PHNO. Mar 21, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2019."Govt retakes Lanao town from MILF rebels" PHNO. Mar 18, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. March 20 – Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) rebels seize more than 50 people in Basilan, including a Roman Catholic priest as well as teachers and students from two schools in Sumisip and Tuburan towns; some of them are held hostage for months."More Massacres in Mindanao than other parts of the country" (December 13, 2009). The Manila Times (via PressReader). Retrieved August 8, 2019.—"Hostage priest tortured, killed by Abu Sayyaf" PHNO. May 5, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.———"Govt attacks Basilan rebels to rescue hostages" PHNO. Apr 22, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—"Stench of death in Sayyaf Basilan camp" PHNO. Apr 29, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.————"Muslim rebels threaten to kill 43 hostages" PHNO. Mar 22, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—"Abu Sayyaf threatens to kill hostages" PHNO. Mar 27, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. March 21 – Pres. Estrada, in his visit in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, declares an all-out war against the MILF in Mindanao following rebel attacks in Lanao provinces——"#Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com: (2000) "The year of living dangerously" September 1, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018. as a warning to the separation of an Islamic state; ended July 12.

April April 8 – Government troops launch an attack on Camp Belal, a MILF camp in Munai, Lanao del Norte, with 16 rebels and a soldier reportedly killed."Govt attacks MILF camp, 16 rebels dead" PHNO. September 4, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. April 12: At least 69 people are killed when an unlicensed, overloaded wooden ferryboat ML Annahada heading for Tawi-Tawi and Malaysia capsized at sea after leaving a port in Jolo, Sulu, with more than a hundred others missing and feared dead.—"56 die, 100 missing in Jolo ferry disaster" PHNO. Apr 13, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—"Jolo boat not licensed for passengers; 69 bodies so far" PHNO. Apr 14, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reports that 70 MILF rebels and 23 government troops have died in escalated clashes in some municipalities in Lanao del Norte for the past few days."70 MILF, 23 soldiers die in Lanao battle" PHNO. Apr 13, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022. April 16 – A grenade explosion on an intersection in Baclaran, Parañaque City kills eight people and hurts 30 others."8 dead in Baclaran grenade blast" PHNO. Apr 17, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022. April 19 – Air Philippines Flight 541 explodes and crashes into a coconut plantation in Island Garden City of Samal, killing all 131 people on board. It is considered as the country's worst aviation accident in history, with fatality count surpassing those from another plane crash in 1998.For the air accident report:—"Air Phils 737 crashes in Davao, no survivors" PHNO. Apr 19, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2019.—TJ Burgonio, et al. (April 20, 2000) "131 die in Davao crash" Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. 1, 4. Retrieved August 7, 2019.—AP, et al. (April 20, 2000) "131 killed in worst RP crash" Manila Standard, pp. 1–2. Retrieved May 24, 2021.Accident as the Philippines' worst:—"RP's worst air accidents" (April 20, 2000). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. 13.—According to Aviation Safety Network database (Link), the said aviation accident is currently the worst. The worst before was the one which occurred in February 1998, now the 2nd deadliest, with 104 fatalities. (See the details of Feb. 1998 and Apr. 2000 accidents. Retrieved 02-11-2021.) April 22 – Military troops launch an assault against Abu Sayyaf in Camp Abdurajak on Basilan Island, in response to a claim on Apr. 19 that the extremist Muslim rebel group have executed two male teachers, and in an attempt to rescue the hostages who have been held captive for a month; three soldiers and 25 rebels are reportedly killed in the attack; they capture the main rebel camp in the island on April 28.—"Abu Sayyaf to kill priest, 4 others unless Govt stops attack" PHNO. Apr 23, 2000.—"3 soldiers, 25 rebels killed in Basilan assault" PHNO. Apr 25, 2000.—"Basilan rebels cornered, retreat with hostages" PHNO. Apr 28, 2000.All were retrieved January 7, 2019. April 23 – ASG gunmen seized 21 people including 10 tourists and 11 resort workers, two of them Filipinos, from the resort island of Sipadan, Malaysia. Hostages are brought to the Jolo in the southern Philippines; most of them are released later that year except for a Filipino captive who would escape in 2003."It's do or die - Abu Sayyaf" PHNO. Oct 28, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022.—"Tausug gunmen head for RP w/ 20 abducted tourists" PHNO. Apr 24, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2019.—"List of hostages abducted from Malaysia" PHNO. Apr 25, 2000. Retrieved June 24, 2019.—"Abu Sayyaf claim Malaysian abductions" PHNO. Apr 25, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—"2 foreign hostages reported dead" PHNO. March 5, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—— April 27 – Army troops capture a MILF camp in Balo-i. Lanao del Norte following a clash that has killed at least 26 guerrillas."Govt retakes Lanao MILF camp, 26 rebels dead" PHNO. Apr 27, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022.

May May 3: Four ASG hostages, including a Roman Catholic priest and 3 teachers are killed during an operation which soldiers rescued 15 another hostages.—"Abu Sayyaf tortured, killed Filipino hostages" PHNO. 05-04-2000. Retrieved 01-07-2019.—"Zambales readies martyr's welcome for slain priest" PHNO. 05-07-2000. Retrieved 02-26-2022. There are also reports that 5 children have been killed by the ASG and a female teacher has been missing; all among the victims who were kidnapped in March. Twenty-one soldiers and a CAFGU member are killed in an encounter between government troops and the MILF in Matanog, Maguindanao, in what would be the biggest single battle loss suffered by the government during the war. May 4: The ILOVEYOU computer virus, originating from the country, is released by a student, spreading quickly throughout the world and damaging around 45 million computers worldwide.—"'LoveLetter' computer virus – made in RP" PHNO. April 5, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019.—"RP 'love bug' wreaks $1-B havoc on world's computers." (May 6, 2000). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. 1, 5. (Link) Retrieved August 7, 2019. A firefight between secessionist MILF and government soldiers occurs in the Lanao del Sur–Maguindanao provincial boundary, when rebels allegedly occupied a highway; ends with the capture of the MILF–BIAF headquarters on May 7, with 108 rebels and 3 Marine soldiers died within two days."108 rebels dead as Govt captures MILF HQ" PHNO. August 5, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. May 6 – Six persons are killed and 37 others are wounded in separate bus explosions in Surigao and Butuan cities."Six persons killed, 37 wounded in Surigao bomb blast" PHNO. July 5, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. May 7 – An Army Special Forces unit in Lantawan, Basilan, searching for ASG hostages taken in March, is ambushed by the bandits, killing 13 of its soldiers."Help for wives, families of slain soldiers in Basilan ambush" PHNO. May 24, 2000. Retrieved Feb 26, 2022. May 16 – An explosion in Glorietta Mall in Makati injures 13 persons. May 21 – An explosion and a stampede in SM Megamall in Mandaluyong kills one person and injures at least 11 others."Megamall cinema bombed, 1 dead" PHNO. May 21, 2000. Retrieved January 7, 2019. May 25: