Fugitive ex-Philippine official accuses Marcos of ordering bogus flood control projects
By Raissa Robles A fugitive former Philippine lawmaker has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr of directing him to add 100 billion pesos (US$1.7 billion) worth of dubious public works projects to the national budget, a claim that throws new fuel on the corruption scandal that has dogged his administration for months. Analysts say the explosive […]
Read MoreMarcos vows to jail dozens of flood graft-linked politicians by Christmas
MANILA: Many powerful politicians linked to corruption in Philippine flood control projects will be in jail by Christmas, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, after dozens of officials were named as suspects in a multibillion-dollar graft scandal. Public outrage has grown since August in the Philippines, after an audit ordered by Marcos revealed that […]
Read MoreTyphoon Fung-wong weakens in the Philippines, killing four
One of the year’s most powerful storms in the Philippines, Super Typhoon Fung-wong has killed four people, authorities said today (10 November), as they began assessing damage after its fury abated, though no reports of major destruction have flowed in yet. More than a million people were evacuated before Fung-wong hit land yesterday, unleashing fierce […]
Read MoreICC arrest imminent for Duterte’s Philippine drugs war ally Dela Rosa: ombudsman
Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa takes a selfie with Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters in Davao City on March 28. Photo: Reuters The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who oversaw then-president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, according to the nation’s ombudsman, although the ICC denied the assertion. Duterte, […]
Read MorePhilippines’ No 1 Asean chair priority? A South China Sea code, then a visit by Xi
By Raissa Roblesin Manila It was a fleeting handshake, but one that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr made sure was caught on camera. On November 1, Marcos approached Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Apec handover ceremony in Gyeongju, South Korea, to offer his congratulations as Beijing assumed the trade bloc’s 2026 chairmanship. A Filipino […]
Read MoreICC issues arrest warrant for ally of Philippine ex-President Duterte over drug war, ombudsman says
MANILA, Nov 8 : The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who oversaw then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, the nation’s ombudsman said on Saturday, although the ICC denied the assertion. Duterte, in office from 2016 to 2022, was arrested and taken to The Hague in March […]
Read MoreSouth China Sea: does new US-Philippine task force mark turning point in allies’ ties?
By Sam Beltran The United States and the Philippines have launched a new military task force designed to expand joint operational planning and coordination – a move analysts say underscores both countries’ determination to strengthen deterrence against Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. While the initiative formalises years of expanding defence ties, observers […]
Read MoreChina’s military says it tracked Philippine patrol in South China Sea
BEIJING: China’s military said on Saturday it monitored and tracked a joint patrol organized by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea on October 30 and October 31. Washington and Manila have beefed up military cooperation, unveiling plans on Friday to form a new joint task force for areas including the South China Sea, […]
Read MoreFilipinos mark All Saints’ Day with bonfires, songs to honor their dead
MANILA: Millions of Filipinos thronged cemeteries across the country on Saturday to mark Undas — the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebrations — and take part in traditional serenades and bonfires. The events are part of the observance for some Filipinos, as they continue ancient practices to honor their dead loved ones. For […]
Read MoreSouth China Sea: why US is eyeing Philippines’ coastguard with 3-year training plan
By Jeoffrey Maitem Manila’s long-time ally, the United States, has launched a training programme aimed at strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) operational strategies and maritime law enforcement capabilities. The move, however, could deepen dependence on Washington under the guise of civilian capacity-building, according to some observers, who point to a familiar “pattern” inherent in […]
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