Twenty-four Filipinos detained in Irkutsk, Siberia, for nine months without charges are scheduled for release to Manila on Sunday. Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro will welcome the first batch, following President Marcos's direct appeal to Russian President Putin.
Gatchalian has been elected as the new Senate President, following a leadership dispute. He conceded to the new leader, promising to uncover the truth. A political professor noted the relief but warned of continued challenges to the country's democracy.
Political analyst Sylwia Monika Gorska states ASEAN is unlikely to form a united front on South China Sea disputes due to its principles of consensus, sovereignty, and non-interference. She noted the Asean Maritime Leaders’ Declaration offers Manila an alternative path.
A decade after the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the South China Sea, the dispute remains unresolved. Despite Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr's assertion of peaceful dispute resolution, the ruling has become a point of contention, with maritime incidents and military deployments continuing. China's economic pragmatism has solidified its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner.
Philippine President Marcos is set to attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan from June 17-18, marking his first visit to Russia since taking office. The trip will be closely monitored by Washington and Beijing for potential outcomes on energy, sanctions-sensitive sectors, and broader strategic cooperation with Moscow.
Japan and the Philippines are strengthening defense and maritime cooperation due to shared concerns about China. This move, alongside an enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam, is seen as creating a more integrated security front that could impact Beijing's planning in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
A Social Weather Stations survey shows President Marcos' net satisfaction rating dropped to -15 in March, the lowest of his presidency, down from -3 in November 2025. This figure is based on 33% satisfaction versus 49% dissatisfaction among 1,500 surveyed adult Filipinos.
Vietnam and the Philippines have elevated their relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership, agreeing to closer coordination on regional and global issues. The move includes a renewed defense cooperation agreement aimed at bolstering maritime security.
A protest occurred after Japan and the Philippines agreed to a comprehensive strategic partnership, including security and maritime cooperation, prompting China to assert its EEZ and continental shelf rights in the area east of Taiwan.
Philippine President Marcos is visiting Japan to boost defense and other ties, discussing Tokyo's new defense posture and its potential benefits for Southeast Asia amid China's maritime assertiveness and coercive tactics in the South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr stated that the Philippines would inevitably be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity and the large Filipino population working there. He expressed Manila's desire to avoid war but acknowledged the geographical reality.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, wanted by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity, escaped from the Philippine Senate after gunshots and chaos, prompting a police investigation into potential instigation.
A proposal unveiled by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr for a new Southeast Asian maritime centre has raised questions about its most glaring obstacle: Manila’s long-standing South China Sea dispute with Beijing. Analysts warn such a centre would not only have to avoid appearance of being an instrument of Philippine interests in disputed waters, but also risks simply duplicating the work of existing regional bodies. Speaking on Friday at a press conference following the Asean summit in...
Lawmakers in the Philippines started voting on Monday on whether to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, in what could create a major hurdle for her bid to run for the presidency in 2028. A house justice committee last month found probable cause for her impeachment in a petition from activists accusing her of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth and of threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, his wife and the former house speaker. With ally-turned-enemy...
Lawmakers in the Philippines are set to vote on Monday on whether to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, in what could create a major hurdle for her bid to run for the presidency in 2028. A house justice committee last month found probable cause for her impeachment in a petition from activists accusing her of misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth and of threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, his wife and the former house speaker. With ally-turned-enemy...
Deeper economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hinge on whether a code can be laid down to govern maritime territory and activity in the South China Sea, Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has said. “We cannot institutionalise any of those things until the code of conduct is finalised,” he told a press conference on Friday at the close of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu, when asked about aspects that held the most potential in relations between...
The Philippine House of Representatives has moved Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment closer to a decisive vote, the first step in a week-long process that will test whether allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr have enough support to send the case to a Senate trial. The House placed the impeachment on its plenary agenda on Tuesday, a day after its justice committee endorsed the case, setting up a possible vote by all lawmakers on whether Duterte-Carpio should stand trial in the...
The Philippine Supreme Court has given President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 10 days to respond to an urgent petition filed by political allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, demanding Marcos disclose his state of health. The petition asks the court to force Marcos and his top officials to inform the public about any serious illness and also requests Marcos undergo a hair follicle drug test with results made public. The petitioners cite a constitutional provision requiring public disclosure of the president's health in case of serious illness.
Former Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo confirms she will not return to national politics, stating it's 'not in my horizon.' Serving as mayor of Naga City after a landslide win last year, she plans to seek a second term, arguing three years is too short to accomplish her plans. She pushed back against the idea that the opposition's future depends on her alone.
