https://www.scmp.com/rss/522805/feed The latest news and top stories on Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine emissary to the United States since 2017. He was reappointed in 2022. His responsibilities include strengthening the Philippines-US alliance, promoting trade and investment, and fostering public diplomacy. He previously held roles as Special Envoy to the US, publisher of PEOPLE Asia magazine and a columnist for The Philippine Star. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies, its ambassador to the United States said. The Philippines, which relies heavily on imported fuel, declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday to deal with the fallout from the Middle East war, including ‌the disruptions to oil procurement. “We are working with the State Department to get waivers or exemptions to purchase... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:59:07 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines has fallen in a global corruption perception ranking, as allegations of financial wrongdoings and court cases surrounding a multibillion-peso flood-control programme have deepened doubts about its governance and dented investor confidence. Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International said the Philippines ranked 120th out of 182 countries and territories in its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, down six places from the previous year. The country received a score of 32 on a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344179/views-corruption-philippines-worsen-grease-money-dents-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344179/views-corruption-philippines-worsen-grease-money-dents-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The United States’ plan to expand deployments of advanced missile systems and unmanned platforms in the Philippines is less about hardware than geography and what it signals about Washington’s long-term strategy in the region, analysts said. Announced after the 12th Philippines–US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue this week, the move reflects a steady effort to reinforce the so-called First Island Chain and bolster the US–Philippines alliance’s defensive posture in both the South China Sea and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344020/us-missile-deployments-philippines-signal-deeper-strategic-shift-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344020/us-missile-deployments-philippines-signal-deeper-strategic-shift-region?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:58:23 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The Philippines “will consider” an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his proposed “Board of Peace”, Manila’s envoy to Washington said, a move that has drawn scepticism from critics who warn Manila could be embarrassed by signing up to what they see as a volatile, personality-driven initiative. Trump had personally invited President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr to be part of the board, but the Philippine leader had not yet decided whether to accept, Jose Manuel Romualdez said. While... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342946/manila-will-consider-joining-trumps-board-peace-philippine-envoy-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342946/manila-will-consider-joining-trumps-board-peace-philippine-envoy-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:13:05 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou A war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine politicians over the disputed South China Sea has prompted calls in Manila to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata – the second such call in three years. While Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has rejected the idea, the latest spike in tensions led to officials of the two countries breaking a year-long hiatus and sitting down for talks in Cebu. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the talks on January 29 were... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342485/first-china-philippines-talks-over-year-south-china-sea-thaw-offing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342485/first-china-philippines-talks-over-year-south-china-sea-thaw-offing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem South Korea’s leading aircraft manufacturer has said it is in talks with the Philippines for more deals following an aerial show featuring the prowess of one of its newest multirole fighter jets near Seoul. Spectators filled the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province for the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, with the Republic of Korea Air Force showcasing the capabilities of the KF-21 Boramae, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), over the skies of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330423/philippines-talks-buy-more-south-korean-fighter-jets-aircraft-maker-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330423/philippines-talks-buy-more-south-korean-fighter-jets-aircraft-maker-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:14:58 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As dusk settles over Angeles City, Justin Cunanan prepares for another long night. While the rest of the Philippines sleeps, he joins millions of his compatriots powering a global industry that is now facing threats from both Washington and Silicon Valley. For the next nine hours, the 33-year-old will field customer service calls for a company based in the United States. The night shift is gruelling, but for Cunanan, who previously worked in hospitality, the benefits of a business process... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3329438/us-call-centre-act-threatens-philippines-us30-billion-outsourcing-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3329438/us-call-centre-act-threatens-philippines-us30-billion-outsourcing-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 05:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Philippines’ potential purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the United States has been put on hold due to budget constraints, Manila’s ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday. The US State Department approved the potential sale, valued at an estimated US$5.6 billion, earlier this year in what was seen as a significant capability boost for the Philippine Air Force amid rising regional tensions. “Right now, I think it’s on hold, mainly because … the funding is the key element of this whole... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3324874/philippines-pauses-purchase-plans-f-16s-us-due-funding-chokepoint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3324874/philippines-pauses-purchase-plans-f-16s-us-due-funding-chokepoint?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:51:39 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The United States has formally asked the Philippines to extradite controversial televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, reigniting scrutiny over the detained preacher’s alleged trafficking and abuse network, as well as sparking questions over whether Manila will hand him over. Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed the request on Wednesday, telling local media the documents had been sent to the Department of Justice in June. Quiboloy, 74, is the founder of the influential... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3322774/us-extradition-request-quiboloy-puts-philippines-tough-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3322774/us-extradition-request-quiboloy-puts-philippines-tough-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:43:35 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The Philippines will aim to bring down the tariff imposed by the US on Philippine exports to 15 per cent from 19 per cent, Manila’s envoy to Washington said, as the August 1 deadline set by President Donald Trump nears. “There is room for more improvement on the tariff,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an interview on Thursday. “As he announced earlier today that the lower yield goes to 15 per cent and so we are all hoping that we’ll be able to bring it down to that... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319380/philippines-eyes-further-us-tariff-bargain-trump-targeting-15?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3319380/philippines-eyes-further-us-tariff-bargain-trump-targeting-15?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump will host his Philippine counterpart in the White House this month to discuss how the long-time treaty allies can further deepen their security and economic engagements, Philippine officials said on Friday. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr will visit the United States from July 20 to 22, but Philippine officials were still finalising details of his meeting with Trump with the US State Department, the Philippine government said. The allies have boosted mutual defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317919/us-trump-host-philippines-marcos-jnr-discuss-asia-trade-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317919/us-trump-host-philippines-marcos-jnr-discuss-asia-trade-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:52:20 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The move by US President Donald Trump to impose a higher-than-expected tariff on the Philippines signals his unwavering determination to pressure Washington’s trade partners to do their part in reducing the US deficit in tandem with its intensifying rivalry with China, according to analysts. Trump announced on Wednesday that the tariff on Philippine exports to the US would be 20 per cent, above the 17 per cent that he had previously threatened to impose. He said Washington’s trade partners were... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3317765/philippines-urged-double-down-talks-over-20-tariff-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3317765/philippines-urged-double-down-talks-over-20-tariff-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:24:45 +0000