Latest Philippines government News
Philippine troops kill 10 communist rebels in a clash, in the latest blow to decades-long insurgency
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine troops killed at least 10 suspected communist guerrillas in a clash in a remote northern area in the latest blow to a decades-old insurgency that has weakened considerably, with only about a thousand guerrillas remaining, military and security officials said...
Japan and Philippines trying to finish defense pact for signing in Manila as alarm grows over China
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over China’s...
Former Philippine President Duterte plans to run for Senate next year, daughter says
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to run for the Senate in mid-term elections next year, his daughter and the country's vice president said Tuesday. When Duterte's stormy presidential term ended in 2022, he said he would retire from...
Philippines says it won't back down, but won't start a war, after clash with Chinese Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The president of the Philippines said Sunday his country would not yield to “any foreign power” after Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats with machetes, axes and hammers in a clash in the disputed South China Sea,...
Takeaways from AP's report on Philippines governor's interest in natural gas
BATANGAS, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines is engaged in a major buildout of natural gas power at a time when scientists say the world needs to urgently phase out fossil fuel use because of climate change. Analysts say Filipinos will likely pay more for their electricity and that additional...
Philippines won't invoke mutual defense treaty with US after Chinese confrontation at disputed shoal
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines said Friday it has no plan to invoke its mutual defense treaty with the United States after the Chinese coast guard reportedly rammed, boarded and used machetes and axes to damage two Philippine navy boats in a chaotic faceoff that injured Filipino navy...
Vietnam says it's ready to hold talks with Philippines on overlapping continental shelf claims
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam is ready to hold talks with the Philippines to settle their overlapping claims to the undersea continental shelf in the South China Sea, official Vietnamese media said Friday, in a diplomatic approach that contrasts with China’s increasingly assertive actions to...
Politician who pushed Philippines natural gas boom is behind firm that planned to profit
BATANGAS, Philippines (AP) — An influential politician in the Philippines, who has been a cheerleader for natural gas power, is behind a company that planned to make a fortune from it, an Associated Press investigation of thousands of pages of documents has found. Gov. Hermilando...
Mutual defense pact between North Korea and Russia raises new questions, but it's far from unique
BANGKOK (AP) — A new mutual-defense pact signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commits each country to come to the other's aid if attacked. Just what the threshold for such assistance would be is currently unclear -- maybe deliberately so,...
Philippines demands China return rifles and pay for boat damage after hostilities in disputed sea
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damages in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea. Chinese...
