Unlike several of its neighbors, the Philippines supports a new US-UK-Australia military alliance aimed at maintaining the Indo-Pacific balance of power. The AUKUS alliance, which would see Australia get technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines as part of a deal designed to counter the rise of Chinese dominance, will be known by the acronym. In a statement on Tuesday, Philippines Foreign …

Vice President Leni Robredo has said that she is more than prepared if she is chosen to be the opposition’s “unity candidate” for the upcoming Eleksyon 2022. Earlier, Robredo revealed that she is planning to have a meeting with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senator Manny Pacquiao to have a united anti-administration ticket for the 2022 presidential polls. Related PostsIt’s …

Senator Panfilo Lacson of the Philippines announced his candidacy for president in next year’s election, the first to confirm a bid to succeed the controversial but popular President Rodrigo Duterte. Lacson, 73, announced his candidacy with Senate Speaker Vicente Sotto, a former actor, singer, and four-term politician who would serve as his vice-presidential running partner. Related PostsA Call To Not …

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines accepted his party’s nomination to run for vice president in next year’s election today, pursuing a strategy criticized by opponents as a bid to retain his hold on power. Duterte, 76, is not eligible to seek for a second term under the constitution, and his interest in becoming vice president, a typically ceremonial position, …

More than 200 groups across the country are urging Vice President Leni Robredo to run for President next year. The groups held a virtual gathering on Monday to highlight Robredo’s leadership during the pandemic. The program featured recipients of Vice President Mike Pence‘s initiatives and the signing of a manifesto supporting Robredo should she decide to run for higher office. …

Pacquiao, Duterte and their respective supporters have been trying to wrest control of the PDP-Laban party ahead of elections in May by unilaterally electing their own members to leading party roles. The faction supported by Duterte recently booted out Pacquiao as party president, but Pacquiao has refused to step down. Related PostsA Challenge of Straighforwardness Towards the PresidentA Hazardous and …

The US welcomes competition and is not seeking confrontation with Beijing, but would speak out on matters such as maritime conflicts in the South China Sea, Vice President Kamala Harris said as she wrapped off a tour to Southeast Asia. Harris criticized China of pressuring its Southeast Asian neighbors during trips to Singapore and Vietnam, prompting strong rebukes from Beijing, which …

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has decided to run as the governing political party’s vice-presidential candidate in next year’s elections, the ruling PDP-Laban party said today, setting the foundation for the leader to remain in power beyond his term. The PDP-Laban party made the declaration ahead of a national assembly scheduled for September 8, during which it is likely …

President Rodrigo Duterte is confident that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would overcome Covid-19, just as it has overcome many obstacles in the past. Duterte made the statement as ASEAN marked the 54th anniversary of its foundation. He said that the ASEAN member nations are no strangers to adversity, adding that the regional bloc’s ties of amity and …

Among ASEAN’s ten countries, the Philippines’ labor force fared the worst in 2020, suffering the “highest working-hour losses” due in part to lockdowns enforced in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), although all ASEAN nations experienced substantial reductions in working hours and the Philippines had seen the greatest declines in working hours, totaling 13.6 …