Tag: philippines

PHL, Malaysia, Indonesia to conduct joint air patrols

(Eagle News)–  Top defense officials from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to conduct joint air patrols to address criminal activities in maritime areas of common security concerns, according to an official of the Department of National Defense. Defense undersecretary Raymund Quilop said that the chiefs of the defense officials of the three countries have agreed to “explore joint air patrols” in a meeting on October 1. “The three ministers [Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Malaysian […]

Philippines, US hold war games after Duterte tirades

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines and the United States launched war games on Tuesday against the backdrop of the unusual threat of American forces being ejected from the Southeast Asian nation, as its firebrand leader pivots to China. President Rodrigo Duterte has sustained a verbal assault on the United States, the Philippines’ former colonial ruler and mutual defence partner, since he took office on June 30 in response to criticism of his deadly […]

Malacanang defends Duterte’s “Hitler” remarks on illegal drug campaign

  (Eagle News) — What Adolf Hitler did and what President Duterte wants to do to criminals are “two entirely different things,” according to Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in defense of the President’s remarks making reference to the Holocaust in his war against illegal drugs. The remark that triggered outrage in the German and Jewish community prompted Malacanang to release a statement early Saturday, around 1:30 a.m., to clarify the latest controversial utterances of the […]

US, UN weigh in on Duterte’s Hitler remarks, call them “troubling”

  (Reuters) — The U.S. State Department on Friday (September 30) called “troubling” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s comments likening himself to Adolf Hitler and saying he would be happy to exterminate 3 million drug users. “America’s … partnership with the Philippines is … based on a mutual foundation of shared values and that includes our shared belief in human rights and human dignity,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. “President Duterte’s comments are a significant departure from […]

Vietnam to share drug intel data with Phl

(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday (September 30) revealed that Vietnam will share intelligence data with the Philippines on narcotics trade. “They will share intelligence data. I’ll be sending military and police, sort of an envoy for this specific purpose,” Duterte said. According to Duterte, combating illegal drugs was a common interest between Philippines and Vietnam. “They have agreed it should be a concern not only of the two nations, but the entire region,” […]

US-PHL military alliance ‘ironclad’ — US defense chief

  SAN DIEGO, United States (AFP)– US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday that America’s alliance with the Philippines was “ironclad,” despite that country’s president vowing a day earlier to end joint military exercises. “As it has been for decades, our alliance with the Philippines is ironclad,” Carter said, addressing troops aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, docked in San Diego. On Wednesday, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he would soon end joint military […]

US-Philippines military alliance ‘ironclad’: Pentagon chief

SAN DIEGO, United States (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday that America’s alliance with the Philippines was “ironclad,” despite that country’s president vowing a day earlier to end joint military exercises. “As it has been for decades, our alliance with the Philippines is ironclad,” Carter said, addressing troops aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, docked in San Diego. On Wednesday, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said he would soon end joint military […]

Yasay: Duterte’s tirades vs. US, EU won’t ruin foreign relations

(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the European Union and United States would not ruin any relations with them, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Tuesday (September 27). Yasay said Duterte’s statements were just ways of expressing his dismay following the criticisms launched by U.S. and E.U. on supposed human rights violations and summary killings. Yasay added that the President’s declaration to open the country’s doors to Russia and China did not mean he will […]

President Duterte wants China and Russia to invest in the Phl

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he will visit China and Russia to open up the Philippines for Chinese and Russian investors. In a speech during the oath taking rites of new officials of the Malacanan Press Corps on Monday, President Duterte said he had discussions with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. But the President clarified that he would not break ties with the United States but will start stronger trade alliances with […]

Philippines reports first Zika pregnancy case

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines on Monday reported its first known case of a pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus that threatens unborn babies, as authorities warned people to avoid mosquitos. Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said 12 cases of Zika had been detected across the Philippines this month, including a 22-year-old woman from the central island of Cebu who is 19 weeks’ pregnant with her first child. “Initial ultrasound did not detect any […]

News in photos: Philippine Foreign Secretary Yasay addresses the UN General Assembly

    United Nations, United States | AFP | Saturday 9/25/2016 – 05:27 GMT+8 | 356 words The Philippines’ foreign secretary on Saturday pushed back against criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, telling the United Nations not to interfere. “We urge everyone to allow us to deal with out domestic challenges in order to achieve our national goals, without undue interference,” Perfecto Yasay told the UN General Assembly. There has been growing international alarm […]