Rodrigo Duterte

Marine Pardon Can Get US Vaccine For Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte's pardon of a United States (US) marine convicted of killing a transgender woman should help the Philippines gain access to coronavirus vaccines being developed by American companies, his spokesman said Thursday."I accept the reality that the president is upholding the higher national interest," spokesman Harry Roque said, although he insisted that he was expressing a personal opinion, and not that of Duterte.Duterte sparked controversy earlier this we

12 September 2020
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The Philippines-China Relations Balancing Act

China recently urged the Philippines to “immediately stop illegal provocations,” following a diplomatic protest filed by Manila with regard to the Chinese Coast Guard's confiscation of Filipino fishermen's devices in Scarborough and the issuance of radio challenges at aircraft patrolling the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

3 September 2020
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Can “Rev-Gov” Heal All In The Philippines?

In his weekly address to the nation on 25 August, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he has no plans in forming a “revolutionary government” or “Rev-Gov”, and is not in whatsoever way connected to the call of one of those groups that support him for a “revolutionary government”, contrary to what his political detractors are claiming.

30 August 2020
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Corruption Amid A Pandemic

Corruption in the Philippines is not something novel as the coronavirus that is plaguing the country and the world at large. It is rather an endemic, deep-seated, and deep-rooted virus that has afflicted the country since time immemorial.

23 August 2020
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Duterte To Skip Philippine Trial Of Russia Vaccine

The Philippines will begin large-scale human testing of Russia's coronavirus vaccine in October, but President Rodrigo Duterte will not receive the inoculation until regulators guarantee its safety, his spokesman said Thursday.Duterte had offered himself up as a guinea pig for the very first jab, expressing "huge trust" in the vaccine, despite growing scepticism about its effectiveness.But his spokesman Harry Roque said the president was scheduled to receive the vaccine no earl

14 August 2020
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Duterte Says Will Be Russia Vaccine 'Guinea Pig'

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will be a guinea pig for a controversial Russian coronavirus vaccine, his spokesman said on Wednesday, as the Southeast Asian nation emerged as a frontrunner for overseas clinical trials.Moscow says it has developed the world's first vaccine offering "sustainable immunity" against the virus and is in the final stage of tests involving 2,000 people.However, Western scientists have previously raised concerns about the speed of development of R

13 August 2020
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Millions Return To Lockdown In The Philippines

More than 27 million people in the Philippines - about a quarter of the population - will go back into lockdown Tuesday after overwhelmed health workers warned the country was losing the battle against the coronavirus.Since the beginning of June, when much of the country emerged from one of the world's longest stay-at-home orders, confirmed infections in the archipelago have increased fivefold, surging past 100,000.The new restrictions announced by President Rodrigo Duterte late Sunday a

4 August 2020
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Philippines: Deadliest Country For Land Defenders

The Philippines was the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders again last year while slipping to second most dangerous in the world behind Colombia, a watchdog said Wednesday.A total of 43 defenders were killed in the archipelago - the vast majority on the fertile and resource-rich islands of Mindanao and Negros - compared with 30 in 2018, Global Witness said in a report.Nearly half of the killings recorded since President Rodrigo Duterte took power in 2016 have been l

29 July 2020
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Duterte Renews Push For Death Penalty For Drug Crimes

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday drug offenders should be executed by lethal injection, in a fresh push for the death penalty as part of his anti-narcotics crackdown that has killed thousands. In a wide-ranging State of the Nation address, Duterte also admitted the government's response to the coronavirus epidemic had been "far from perfect" as the number of infections surged past 82,000, with nearly 2,000 deaths. Duterte had been expected to u

28 July 2020
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Fresh Lockdown For 250,000 In Manila

About 250,000 people in Manila will go back into lockdown, an official said Monday, as the number of new coronavirus infections in the Philippines surges.Residents in Navotas, one of 16 cities that make up the sprawling capital of 12 million people, will have to stay home for a fortnight, just six weeks after emerging from one of the world's longest lockdowns."I am not sure if this is a solution, but I am certain that if I do this the number of cases will not increase," Navotas

14 July 2020
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Duterte's Anti-Terrorism Law Challenged In Top Court

Critics of a new anti-terrorism law in the Philippines called on the country's highest court Monday to suspend the legislation, arguing it threatens human rights and freedom of speech. The law approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday gives the security forces sweeping powers to go after terrorists, but critics fear it could be used to stifle dissent and target government opponents.Rights groups had called on Duterte to veto the law, which allows for a special council comp

7 July 2020
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