Philippines ready to use “forces” to quell any secession attempt – official
Manila, The Philippines Reuters The Philippine Government is ready to use “authority and forces” against attempts to divide the nation, a security official said Sunday, after former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to separate some southern islands from the rest of the archipelago. Duterte has called for the independence of his hometown Mindanao from the Philippines […]
Strong quake in Philippines triggers tsunami warnings and evacuations
Manila, The PhilippinesReuters Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday night, triggering tsunami warnings in the country and in Japan, though a US agency said the risk of large waves had passed. The US Tsunami Warning System, which initially […]
At least seven killed in Philippines earthquake
Reuters The death toll from a strong earthquake in the southern Philippines has risen to seven, disaster and police officials said on Tuesday, as aftershocks continued to jolt many parts of Mindanao. The 6.6 magnitude quake hit early on Tuesday, damaging buildings, toppling power lines and triggering landslides in the central area of the Philippines’ […]
Lawyer hopes ethical business can secure peace in the Philippines
Thomson Reuters Foundation Could ethical business be the key to ending one of Southeast Asia’s most intractable separatist conflicts? That is the hope of lawyer Anwar Malang, who has campaigned for decades to bring peace to a Muslim enclave of the Catholic-majority Philippines. The conflict in Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines, has […]
Philippines’ Marawi conflict “not only about religion”, study finds
World Watch Monitor A study by International Alert shows that the armed conflict in the southern Philippines city of Marawi last year was not only about religion. Findings of the study, released by the independent peacebuilding group in the capital Manila on 2nd October, said that the war was not the result of a religious conflict. “Evidence shows that […]
Philippines priest celebrates first year of “second life” after escape
World Watch Monitor On the anniversary of his escape last week, the Catholic priest held hostage for four months by an Islamist group in the southern Philippines city of Marawi says he has since found a new lease of life, reports Catholic news agency UCAN. Fr Teresito Suganob was one of around 200 people taken hostage when Islamists stormed the city […]
In The Philippines, Mindanao Christians present ‘policy agenda’ for new Muslim region
World Watch Monitor Christian leaders have submitted a “Christian policy agenda” to the transitory body that will facilitate the formation of a new autonomous Muslim region in the southern Philippines, reports the Catholic news website UCAN. The agenda, put together after consultations last month in several areas set to become part of the new region, was […]
Fears new Muslim region in southern Philippines could spark Christian exodus
World Watch Monitor Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has called on all communities in the southern Mindanao region to support the Bangsamoro Organic Law that is to facilitate the creation of an autonomous Muslim region. During a ceremony on Monday, 6th August, he urged the local population “to actively participate in constructive discussions about the law”, which will […]
Churches body urged Philippines Government to address “worsening human rights situation”
The World Council of Churches has urged the Philippines Government to address the “worsening human rights situation and increasing violence and impunity in the country”. In a statement issued this week, the WCC’s Central Committee said they were “deeply alarmed by the escalating violence, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses in the Philippines in […]
Marawi Catholics accompany Muslims in Ramadan fast in The Philippines
World Watch Monitor Catholic and Muslim residents of the battle-scarred city of Marawi, in the southern Philippines, started the Islamic month of fasting together this week, as part of a local tradition dating back almost 40 years. As Ramadan began on 13th May, Christian families were encouraged to “accompany their Muslim neighbours in fasting, prayer […]