Journalists who took on Putin and Duterte win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo, Norway/Moscow, Russia/Manila, The PhilippinesReuters Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who braved the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, in an endorsement of free speech under fire worldwide. The two were awarded “for their courageous fight for freedom of […]
Philippines’ Duterte accepts 2022 vice presidential nomination
Manila, The PhilippinesReuters Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday accepted his party’s nomination to run for vice president in next year’s election, forging ahead with a plan criticised by rivals as a cynical move to maintain his political power. The mercurial leader, 76, is barred by the constitution from seeking a second term and his interest in […]
Relatives of Philippine drug war victims alarmed by Duterte’s talk of staying on
Manila, The PhilippinesReuters Philippine activists and the families of victims in a drug war that has killed thousands view with dread the possibility of President Rodrigo Duterte staying on as vice-president for six more years after his time in the top job ends next year. The constitution bars a re-election bid by Duterte, 76, but […]
Aquino, Philippine ex-leader who challenged China, is buried
Manila, Philippines AP Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III was buried Saturday with thousands lining up streets to remember him for standing up to China in bitter territorial disputes, striking a peace deal with Muslim guerrillas and defending democracy in a South-East Asian nation where his parents helped topple a dictator. Aquino died Thursday at […]
Philippines’ Duterte threatens those who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine with jail
Manila, PhilippinesReuters President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to jail people who refuse to be vaccinated against the coronavirus as the Philippines battles one of Asia’s worst outbreaks, with over 1.3 million cases and more than 23,000 deaths. “You choose, vaccine or I will have you jailed,” Duterte said in a televised address on Monday following reports […]
Philippine President approves amnesty program for rebels
Manila, PhilippinesAP The Philippine President has approved an amnesty program for Muslim and communist rebels who would agree to surrender their weapons as they return to normal life in the latest such attempt to tame rural insurgencies that have raged for half a century. Thousands of guerrillas belonging to two large Muslim groups in the […]
Philippine President signs widely opposed anti-terror law
Manila, PhilippinesAP The Philippine President on Friday signed a widely opposed anti-terror law which critics fear could be used against human rights defenders and to muzzle dissent. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act after weighing the concerns of different groups, demonstrating the government’s commitment to stamping out terrorism, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. In […]
Christians in the Philippines decry growing hostilities after killing of pastor
Morning Star News Following the killing of a pastor on the Island of Mindanao on Friday, church leaders in the Philippines have decried an alleged increase in attacks on Christian human rights defenders since the start of the Rodrigo Duterte administration in 2016. Pastor Ernesto Javier Estrella of the United Church of Christ in the […]
Violator or enforcer? Philippine harassment law puts president in spotlight
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThomson Reuters Foundation Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was on Tuesday accused of being the “most brazen violator” of a new law he approved that would penalise a wide range of sexual harassment, from catcalling to wolf-whistling. The 74-year-old President’s controversial remarks about women include numerous jokes about rape and have incensed women’s rights […]
Catholic bishop in Philippines condemns “extra-judicial killings” as always wrong
A Catholic bishop in the Philippines has used his Christmas message to appeal for an end to extra-judicial killings in the Asian nation, Agenzia Fides reports. The Catholic news agency reports that Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, head of the diocese of Kalookan and vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said in […]