Tag: philippines

Philippines’ Duterte declares communist ceasefire

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced Monday a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels who are waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, and urged them to reciprocate. Duterte made the announcement in his first “State of the Nation Address” to Congress as he laid the groundwork for peace talks with the communists that are due to begin in Norway next month. “To stop violence on the ground (and) restore peace, I am now […]

DFA statement on the Munich shooting

MANILA, Philippines (PIA) July 25 —  The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the Munich shooting. The statement was posted at the DFA website on July 24. “The Philippines offers its sincerest condolences and prayers to a grieving nation and to the family and friends of the victims of the shooting in Munich. The Philippine Government, through the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, is coordinating with German authorities and monitoring the situation closely. The […]

SONA Trivia

(Eagle News) – Here are some interesting facts about the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Philippines (trivia and infographics courtesy malacanang.gov.ph)   First SONA: The first SONA was delivered during a special session of the National Assembly on November 25, 1935. It was the only SONA delivered before a special session of the Legislature.   This was delivered by President Manuel Quezon to the First National Asembly on National Defense. Historically, SONAs have […]

Things to know about the SONA

ON July 25, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). The address of President Duterte will be the 78th since 1935 and the 30th since the restoration of democratic rule under the Fifth Republic in 1987. The SONA is a constitutional obligation, required by Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution. “The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.” Moreover, […]

SE Asia deadlocked as S. China Sea split deepens

by Martin ABBUGAO Annabel SYMINGTON VIENTIANE, Laos (AFP) — Southeast Asian nations were deadlocked Sunday about how to confront China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as pressure from Beijing again drove a wedge between countries on the region’s toughest security challenge. Their gathering in the Laos capital is the first time regional players — including China and the United States — have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal delivered a hammer blow […]

President Duterte to deliver first SONA sans fanfare

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 16th President of the Philippines, is set to deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, July 25. The address of President Duterte will be the 78th since 1935 and the 30th since the restoration of democratic rule under the Fifth Republic in 1987. President Duterte’s first SONA will be simple and without fanfare according to the Presidential Communications Office. The President has requested […]

China backs Philippine’s controversial drug war

China has offered its support to the Philippine’s controversial drug crackdown pushed by new President Rodrigo Duterte, which has been slammed by rights groups for encouraging extrajudicial killings and vigilante justice. “China fully understands that the Philippine government under the leadership of Rodrigo Duterte has taken it as a top priority in cracking down (on) drug-related crimes,” China’s embassy in Manila said in a statement issued Tuesday. “China has expressed explicitly to the new administration […]

Don’t call me ‘Your Excellency’: President Duterte

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The Philippines’ brash anti-establishment president Rodrigo Duterte told his government Thursday not to call him “Your Excellency”. Duterte, 71, said he wanted to be referred to simply as “President” in all official communications in a statement from his office. The first president from the vast southern region of Mindanao, Duterte has reinforced his image as a maverick outsider focused on a brutal anti-crime war instead of the opulence of the presidential […]

Taiwan lawmakers, fishermen protest at disputed island

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwanese lawmakers and fishermen headed to an island in the disputed South China Sea Wednesday to protest at an international tribunal ruling which undermined Taipei’s claims there. Eight lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) boarded a military plane to the Taiwan-controlled Taiping island in the Spratlys archipelago. Five fishing boats decorated with Taiwanese flags and banners reading “Protect fishing rights, safeguard sovereignty” also set sail […]

China backs Philippine’s controversial drug war

MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — China has offered its support to the Philippine’s controversial drug crackdown pushed by new President Rodrigo Duterte, which has been slammed by rights groups for encouraging extrajudicial killings and vigilante justice. “China fully understands that the Philippine government under the leadership of Rodrigo Duterte has taken it as a top priority in cracking down (on) drug-related crimes,” China’s embassy in Manila said in a statement issued Tuesday. “China has expressed explicitly […]

Kerry to meet Abbas as part of global tour

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Paris this week for talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on peace prospects with Israel, the State Department said Tuesday. The meeting with Abbas will be the top US diplomat’s second stop on a global tour that will kick off late Thursday. Kerry will discuss with the Palestinian leader “ongoing efforts to advance a two-state solution,” the State Department said in […]