Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte must end his “policy of subservience” towards Beijing, lawmakers and foreign policy experts have said, warning that the Filipino leader’s silence is sending the wrong signal as hundreds of Chinese “maritime militia” vessels continue to congregate within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.While several Filipino officials, including the country’s top diplomat and the defence chief, have openly demanded that the Ch

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he will "waive" his chance to get a COVID-19 vaccine, arguing elderly people like him should not be prioritised.Just over one million people in the Philippines have received their first shot since the beginning of March - a fraction of the number needed to reach herd immunity in the country of 110 million.The slow rollout and limited supply have fuelled criticism of the government's handling of the pandemic as a record surge in infectio

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (12 April) made his first public appearance in two weeks, quashing wild rumours about his purported failing health and even untimely death.He squarely addressed questions about his health."If you want me to die early, you must pray harder," he said, needling those spreading rumours that he had died in Singapore, where he was purportedly taken after a health scare.He said he deliberately avoided appearing in public for two weeks to make

President Rodrigo Duterte has not made any public appearance for close to two weeks now, fuelling speculation that his health is declining, with some even claiming that he has died.His aides and sources have dismissed the rumours – one was that he had suffered a mild stroke and was taken to Singapore where he purportedly died, another was that plans were being drawn up for a military junta to run the Philippines.Adding to the fog was a disclosure that his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara D

These couple of weeks have not been the Philippines’ finest hours because of the surge in COVID-19 cases mostly in the National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus) bubble. This is again another uphill battle the country is trying to overcome.

The Philippine defence department said Thursday it was keeping "all our options open" as a diplomatic row with Beijing grows over hundreds of Chinese vessels in the contested South China Sea.Tensions over the resource-rich waters have spiked in recent weeks after more than 200 Chinese boats were detected at Whitsun Reef, in the Spratly Islands, where China and the Philippines have rival claims. China, which claims almost the entirety of the sea, has refused repeated appeals

The United States (US) on Wednesday warned China against what the Philippines and Taiwan see as increasingly aggressive moves, reminding Beijing of Washington's obligations to its partners."An armed attack against the Philippines' armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters."We share the concer

The presence of Chinese vessels at a disputed reef off the Philippines could ignite “unwanted hostilities”, a top aide to President Rodrigo Duterte has warned, intensifying a diplomatic spat over the ships that Manila has described as “maritime militia”.More than 200 Chinese boats were first spotted on 7 March at Whitsun Reef, approximately 320 kilometres (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).Most of them have since scattered across

A Filipino man who was found breaking quarantine rules has died after being made to do 300 squat-like exercises by police as punishment, his family said.Darren Manaog Penaredondo was allegedly stopped by officers while buying water after 6:00 pm local time in Cavite province on Thursday.He collapsed the following day and later died.Cavite province, on the island of Luzon, is currently under strict lockdown to tackle the spread of COVID-19.Marlo Solero, police chief of General Trias City, said

The Philippines will extend a coronavirus lockdown of more than 24 million people, an official said Saturday, as it deploys tents and health workers to overwhelmed hospitals in the capital where cases are surging.People in Metro Manila – the national capital region – and four neighbouring provinces will have to stay home for another week unless they are essential workers, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.The announcement came as the number of new infections for a single day hit a recor