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Benigno Aquino

Benigno Aquino
Benigno Aquino
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III was the 15th President of the Philippines, and the chairman of the Liberal Party. He is the son of the late Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., a Philippines senator and prominent opposition leader to President Ferdinand Marcos, who was assassinated on August 21, 1983. Aquino began his political career in 1998 when he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province. He was elected president on June 9, 2010.
Born
8 Feb 1960
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Former President of the Philippines
Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Miguel Malvar during a naval exercise in the South China Sea in August 2025. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Public Affairs Office via AP
The Philippines

French ‘intimacy’: Philippines, France near deal for Indo-Pacific strength

The visiting forces deal comes on top of similar pacts with other nations and could help the Philippines attain a ‘muscular defence arsenal’.

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The Philippines

Asian Angle | Greed and pork barrel politics fuel the Philippines’ fatal floods

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Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific investigates wrong taxiway use at Manila airport

The Philippines

Why is Mary Jane Veloso still in prison a year after Indonesia let her go?

The former death row inmate has languished behind bars since being convicted of heroin smuggling in 2010. She was repatriated last December.

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Mary Jane Veloso is reunited with her family at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong, Philippines, on December 18, 2024. Photo: AP
The Philippines

Why Philippines picked ‘results-driven reformer’ to stem flood corruption

Transport chief Vince Dizon expected to produce results as he takes over the public works department, with ‘political survival’ at stake.

The Philippines

Opinion | Benigno Aquino’s lost liberal ‘yellow’ legacy in the Philippines

The late former president’s reformist agenda was upended by his failure to address structural problems, which successor Rodrigo Duterte seized upon.

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Obituaries

Former Philippine president Benigno Aquino dies aged 61

The former president, and son of two of the Philippines’ democracy icons, died of kidney failure as a result of diabetes, his family said.

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Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino pictured in Malaysia in 2015. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Opinion | For an exit strategy, Donald Trump should remember Ferdinand Marcos

Like Trump, Marcos was beaten soundly at the polls. Like Trump, Marcos declared victory despite mounting evidence of defeat. But he eventually left under humiliating circumstances – is the same in store for the outgoing US president?

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Music

Punk rock: sticking up a middle finger to Philippine politics

The ultimate music of protest, in the Philippines punk rock gives voice to opponents of the security forces’ war on drugs and killing of rights activists, the bands’ angry lyrics calling for rebellion against President Rodrigo Duterte.

South China Sea

Philippine President Benigno Aquino attacks China for breaking deal on South China Sea

Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Photo: AP
Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines at the crossroads: What does the rise of Rodrigo Duterte say about the nation’s appetite for change?

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Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte. Photo: Reuters

How will Benigno Aquino be remembered? Here are 10 events that shaped his presidency

Rodrigo Duterte

Philippine President Benigno Aquino urges candidates to join forces against Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines president says Abyu Sayyaf terrorists had plotted to kidnap boxing star Manny Pacquiao

Philippine President Benigno Aquino visits a wounded soldier. Photo: AFP

‘Glad we are back to the supersonic age’: Philippines gets first fighter jets in a decade amid sea feud with China

The newly-acquired FA-50PH fighter jets were welcomed with a water cannon salute at Clark Air Base. Photo: AP

Philippine president's anti-corruption efforts receive mixed reviews

Philippine President Benigno Aquino endorses interior minister Manuel Roxas as next leader, despite poor polling numbers

Aquino said he interviewed three potential candidates ahead of Friday’s endorsement, but in the end chose Roxas.

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Popular or not? Philippines president Benigno Aquino aims to secure his legacy with final State of the Nation address

Philippine President Benigno Aquino delivers his 5th annual State of the Nation address before the annual joint session of 16th Congress in Manila on July 28, 2014. On Monday, Aquino will deliver his final State of the Nation address. Photo: AFP

Update | Philippine president likens China's territorial rise to Nazi Germany's during speech in Japan

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Raissa Robles: Two and a half hours with Aquino that were five years in the making

Engaging China is best way for Philippine President Benigno Aquino to end his term

Philippine President Benigno Aquino has little more than a year left in office and a legacy to think of.

As his presidential term winds down, Aquino's legacy best lies in engaging and reaching out to China. Photo: AFP

All the president's women: Why Benigno Aquino is still a bachelor

All the president's women: Why Benigno Aquino is still a bachelor

Smiling Aquino ‘ridiculous’ and ‘lacking empathy’, Manila hostage crisis survivors say

Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s reason for smiling after the 2010 Manila hostage crisis in which eight Hongkongers died was “ridiculous”, survivors said, accusing him of lacking empathy.

Exclusive | ‘I smile when I’m fed up’: Philippine president Benigno Aquino defends ‘inappropriate’ grins that sparked international outrage

Philippine President Benigno Aquino has explained why he sometimes appears to break into a broad grin at inappropriate moments, such as during a wake for 44 comandos killed during an anti-terror operation (pictured). 'I have various smiles for various purposes,' he said.  

Apec summit 2015

Exclusive | Xi did not talk down to me like ‘elder brother’, Aquino says of Apec chat

President Xi Jinping did not talk like he was an “elder brother” and seemed “very sincere” during a meeting in Beijing in November, Philippine President Benigno Aquino has said.

Benigno Aquino and Xi Jinping at last's year's Apec leaders' summit in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Exclusive | I’m taking Xi to a Chinese restaurant if he visits Manila, says Aquino

If President Xi Jinping were to visit Manila, “I’d take him to a Chinese restaurant”, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said.

Is the way to Xi Jinping's heart through his stomach? Philippine President Benigno Aquino hopes so.

Exclusive | Vietnam asked Philippines to form pact to counter China, Aquino reveals

A new “strategic partnership” being negotiated between two states fending off China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea was suggested by Vietnam, Philippine President Benigno Aquino has revealed.

World should fear Beijing’s claims to South China Sea, says Philippine’s Aquino

China’s efforts to stake its claim to most of the South China Sea should spark fear around the world, with military conflict possible, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said.

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