Philippines

The Philippine government has reiterated its refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has resumed its investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”.  The government has claimed that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, and that the investigation is an interference and an attack on …

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sparked outrage and criticism for using a presidential helicopter to attend a Coldplay concert in Bulacan on Friday, January 19, 2024.  The move was seen as a blatant abuse of power and a waste of public funds, as well as a sign of his disregard for the plight of millions of Filipino commuters who suffer …

Gilberto Teodoro, also known as Gibo, is a former congressman, lawyer, and presidential candidate who was appointed as the Secretary of National Defense by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June 2023. Teodoro, 59, is the first permanent defense chief under the Marcos administration, after two former military chiefs served as officers-in-charge.  He is also the first person to hold the …

When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016, he shocked the world by declaring his “separation” from the United States, the Philippines’ long-standing ally and former colonial master, and his “realignment” with China, the Philippines’ historic rival and rising power.  Duterte said that the US had “lost” and that China was the “only hope” for his country’s development. …

The Philippines has announced its plan to allocate P3 billion ($60 million) to develop the islands that it occupies in the South China Sea, a move that reflects its determination to assert its sovereignty and protect its interests in the disputed region.  The plan includes building a fishing port on Nanshan Island, expanding an airport on Thitu Island, and improving …

The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the Catch-up Fridays program on January 12, 2024, to address the learning gaps among students in basic education. The program dedicates every Friday of the school year to reading, values, peace, and health education, as well as homeroom guidance. The program is not graded, but aims to reinforce learning and enhance skills among students. …

Salmon, a financial technology company working to improve access to credit, savings and investments for over 500 million underserved customers in Southeast Asia, has received regulatory approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to acquire the controlling interest in Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), a licensed financial institution serving Filipino communities since 1963.  Salmon will own 59.7% of …

The Philippines has turned to hackers for cybersecurity help as tensions with China rise over the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine government has hired hackers to test and improve its cyber defenses, and to conduct offensive cyber operations against its adversaries. The hackers, who are mostly former criminals or activists, have been recruited and trained by the Department of …

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) reopened its train line from Naga City in Camarines Sur to Legazpi City in Albay on December 27, 2023, after a six-year suspension due to a lack of train coaches and locomotives. The reopening of the train line, which covers a distance of over 100 kilometers, is expected to solve some of the problems faced …

The Philippines has been pursuing bilateral agreements with other claimants in the South China Sea, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, in an attempt to counter China’s growing assertiveness and influence in the disputed waters.  However, a regional security analyst argues that this strategy is ineffective and counterproductive, and that the Philippines should instead focus on multilateral cooperation and dialogue. …