More than a fifth of the Philippines’ inbound tourists came from China last year – their absence following the coronavirus outbreak could cost the economy US$292 million this month alone.

Russia has moved to help the Philippine military train and arm its troops, a day after Manila scrapped a defence agreement with the US.

The Athletes’ Village for the 2019 SEA Games is being used as a facility to isolate Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan, with residents worried for their health and the possible economic impact.

News comes as Manila says it is still awaiting test results on nearly 70 people suspected of carrying the deadly virus.

As the country recorded the first virus fatality outside China on Sunday, ethnic Chinese organisations have noted an uptick in ‘racist stereotypes and xenophobic attacks’.

The Philippines’ first confirmed case comes a day after the death of another suspected victim, fuelling calls for a temporary ban on all travel to and from China.

With the Lunar New Year travel period just days away, the Philippines has put new restrictions on temporary visit visas for Chinese following a rise in crime linked to the gambling industry.

Volcanic activity at Taal has ‘generally waned’, but there have been more than 100 tremors since Wednesday, indicating that magma is still rising.

A visit by the Chinese coastguard to Manila is touted as an opportunity to talk. But there’ll be no discussion of Beijing’s alleged ‘fishing militia’ in the South China Sea.

Officials also sought to dissuade vendors from selling protective face masks at inflated prices after cloud of volcanic ash blew north to Manila.

Negotiations had foundered over which country’s laws should govern exploration activities in the Reed Bank, where they have overlapping claims.

The country’s vice-president has branded the war on drugs a costly failure after report based on the government’s own data.

Last week, a Philippine court sentenced 29 members and associates of a powerful Muslim clan to life imprisonment for the 2009 massacre of the family and entourage of a political rival. Here we explore three key pieces of evidence that helped secure the convictions.

Powerful Ampatuan political dynasty in 2009 sought to quash election challenge by killing 58 rivals and journalists. The masterminds were jailed for 40 years.

Powerful Ampatuan clan are charged with ordering the killings of 58 people, including 32 journalists. The verdict is due December 19.

Lawmaker Carlos Zarate says the cancellation of two concession deals after a Duterte rebuke has resulted in higher water rates for Filipinos, and paying back the loan could see costs increase further.

The Philippine government is investigating China’s part ownership of the national grid amid claims Beijing can plunge the country into darkness.

Risa Hontiveros vows to push for an investigation by the Senate into claims that Beijing can remotely control the electricity network, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry said were ‘completely groundless’.

The US presidential hopeful has accused the Philippine government of carrying out an ‘abhorrent’ crackdown on activists and labour groups.

Engineers in China could plunge the country into darkness using a remote operating system supplied by a firm based in Nanjing.

Fujian-born John Gokongwei Jnr, best known as the founder of Cebu Pacific, dies two days before 53-year-old PAL Holdings president Lucio ‘Bong’ Tan Jnr.

The Philippine president was angered by the vice-president’s criticism of his war on drugs, saying: ‘You’re brighter? You try it’.

The president is set to become the first Russian leader to make a state visit to the Philippines for more than 40 years, according to a former envoy.

Beijing in 2016 pledged to fund an array of major construction jobs for the president’s infrastructure programme, but three years on, many projects remain on the drawing board.

Russia proposes manufacturing light arms and small weapons in the Southeast Asian nation using Russian know-how after meeting between presidents Duterte and Putin this month.

Gamboa has been accused of only suspending the team leader of the disgraced policemen, despite a recommendation for his sacking. The term ‘ninja cops’ refers to 13 officers accused of stealing and reselling drugs seized in a 2013 bust.

Attempt by the Philippine president to reconcile film star family rift between Gretchen Barretto and sister Marjorie ends in scuffle and the intervention of his bodyguards.

Lieutenant General Noel Clement says the military supports diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation of tensions between China and the Philippines in the disputed waterway.

The Philippine president has invited the Russian oil giant Rosneft to explore for oil in the disputed waterway. Experts warn that could put the Philippines in the middle of a three-way tug of war between the US, China and Russia

China has attempted to entice the Philippines into closer security ties since Duterte became president in 2016, but stand-offs over the South China Sea and a US defence treaty are among the reasons its overtures have been ignored.