Philippines, Communists Resume Peace Talks

The Philippine government agreed on Sunday to reinstate a ceasefire with the communists behind one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s earlier threat to step up attacks on the group. Negotiators for both the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front also agreed to resume collapsed peace talks, a joint statement said. … Read more

Philippines Slams US Drama For President’s Sexual Advance

Manila on Tuesday “strongly protested” an American television drama for showing a fictional Philippine president making a sexual advance on the US secretary of state. In the trailer for the latest edition of “Madam Secretary”, the lead character punches “the Philippines’ unconventional new president” in the face and gives him a bloody nose in reaction … Read more

German Hostage Beheaded By Philippine Islamists

Islamic militants in the Philippines have beheaded the German hostage they were holding for ransom, the SITE Intelligence group said Monday. A video posted by the extremist Abu Sayyaf group, which was monitored by SITE, showed German hostage Jurgen Kantner being killed by a knife-wielding man. The video appeared to confirm preliminary reports received by … Read more

Top Philippine Drug War Critic Arrested At Senate

The highest-profile critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war was arrested on Friday following an overnight vigil at the Senate, according to AFP reporters who witnessed her surrendering to police. In comments to journalists moments before police detained her, Senator Leila de Lima declared she was innocent of drug trafficking charges that could … Read more

How the Philippines Drugs War Was Slowed

When Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte summoned his security chiefs to an urgent meeting one Sunday night last month, his mind was already made up. His military and law enforcement heads had no idea what was coming: a suspension of the police force’s leading role in his signature campaign, a merciless war on illegal drugs. There … Read more

Scores of Inmates Escape In Philippine Prison Break

More than 150 inmates have escaped from a southern Philippine prison in an attack by dozens of gunmen which left one guard dead. Authorities suspect the attackers were linked to Islamist separatist groups. The Philippines, which is predominantly Catholic, has been battling separatists in the south for decades. Groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front … Read more