After key official’s death, can Philippines’ flood-control probe still deliver answers?

By Sam Beltran The death of a senior public works official alleged to have played a central role in the billion-peso flood-control scandal in the Philippines has cast fresh doubt over the future of a months-long corruption probe, with investigators now facing questions over lost testimony and compromised evidence. Legal analysts say the investigations now […]

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Philippines in 2025: a year of crisis, from corruption scandal to South China Sea tensions

By Sam Beltran As the Philippines wraps up a tumultuous year punctuated by colourful barbs thrown across warring political houses, an ongoing corruption scandal surrounding flood control projects threatens to derail President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s administration. Externally, Manila has been embroiled all year in a long-standing territorial row with Beijing in the South China Sea […]

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Philippines to get up to US$3.5 billion defence aid to counter ‘serious threats’

By Raissa Robles Washington is set to deepen its defence support for the Philippines after approving billions of dollars for a loan and a grant to its Southeast Asian ally next year to counter what an American senator has called “serious threats” from China and its partners. Philippine defence officials have welcomed the approval by […]

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Philippines says fishermen injured in China Coast Guard encounter

MANILA: Three Filipino fishermen were injured when China Coast Guard vessels sprayed their boats with water cannons and cut their anchor lines in a disputed area of the South China Sea, Philippine authorities said Saturday. Beijing said Friday it had taken “necessary control measures,” involved about 20 Philippine fishing boats near the flashpoint Sabina Shoal, […]

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Will Philippines favour Eurofighter Typhoon for its military upgrade?

By Sam Beltran An Italian defence company’s push to sell Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Philippines could open the door to broader cooperation between Rome and Manila, with analysts calling the aircraft a promising choice for the country’s military modernisation. Leonardo, a government-linked company, said it was committed to investing in the Philippines’ defence capabilities […]

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Philippines’ Vice-President Duterte faces new corruption charges, sparking political storm

A group of civilians including two former government officials, filed a corruption complaint against Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, in a fresh political challenge for the estranged deputy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. The complaint, filed with the Ombudsman’s office on Friday, alleged that Duterte and 15 other officials, misused 612.5 million pesos (US$10.4 million) in […]

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Philippines’ 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 […]

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Philippines President lauds India’s “consistent support” for rule of law in South China Sea, says “lot to offer to ASEAN as a region”

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s “consistent support” for international law and the rule of law in the South China Sea, while highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic and economic relevance to ASEAN during his address at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit. Speaking at the summit in Kuala Lumpur, […]

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Is accountability looming for Philippines’ Duterte? Survey shows ‘growing demand for justice’

By Sam Beltran Half of Filipinos believe that former president Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for the deaths related to his bloody drug war, with observers pointing out the findings of a new survey could further “lend legitimacy and support” to an international court’s investigation into the ex-leader. The results come amid the International […]

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